Jackson Gwynne has become the first Armidale cricketer in nearly two decades to land a spot in a team to compete at nationals.
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Gwynne was named in the ACT/NSW Country under-19 team for the National Championships in Perth next month after a series of impressive performances at the state challenge earlier this month.
"I was pretty surprised, I have never made it before so it was pretty good," Gwynne said of when he heard of his selection.
"I was just pleased, satisfied more than anything, excited as well."
The last Armidale cricketer to reach national level was Andrew Starr who played in the open NSW Country team in 2000 and 2001 as well as representing Australian Country in Zimbabwe in 2001, the year Gwynne was born.
It has been a rapid rise for the 18-year-old who didn't make a representative side until he was 15.
Hard work at home, along with the help of coaches and experienced cricketers, saw Gwynne rise through the ranks.
"In the backyard more than anything, I never stopped doing anything but then as it got higher, the more important people, like the coaches, never stopped helping me," he said.
"Four years ago I was playing third grade."
After playing third grade for the Barbarians, he moved to Easts where he progressed to first grade and made an impression, highlighted with a 6-17 effort in last season's first grade decider against Hillgrove.
Along with his selection in the team for nationals, Gwynne has also landed a spot at the Sydney University Cricket Club.
He will make the move to the state's capital next month and will begin his career there before jetting off to Perth in December.
Armidale and District Cricket Association president Mike Porter was rapt with the news.
"I think it is great for cricket in Armidale and I think it is great for Jackson because he is a great young man," he said.
"He works extremely hard on his game and he knows the direction he wants to go and he is heading in that direction now.
"He wants to go to the top in cricket.
"It is fantastic that he has made that.
"I am really stoked for Jackson.
"He has worked really, really hard, always at training and does everything right."