The serious work looms for a strong Central Districts Under-17 squad to represent the region at the fiercely competitive national championships at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre in Lincoln, Canterbury, beginning Thursday.
The NZC National Under-17 Tournament is a development opportunity for the best young cricketers from all around New Zealand and, for many players, the championship is their first opportunity to test their skills at a national level against their contemporaries from other provinces.
CD last claimed the national title in 2014/15 and is out to break Auckland's stranglehold, the defending champions from the big smoke having made it two trophies on the bounce last summer.
Both islands and seven of CD's eight District Associations are represented in this year's CD U17 squad for the busy week of one-day matches — reflecting strong work at grass roots and development level and exciting emerging talents right across CD's extensive catchment.
Right-hand number four batsman Sam Sherriff, 17, returns to captain the side as one of two rising stars from Cricket Wanganui — alongside Joel Clark, with Wanganui Collegiate's Hadleigh O'Leary also having been selected as a non-travelling reserve.
