Moree's Paddy Montgomery selected to play in under 19s State Challenge

Montgomery will represent the NSW Country side in the under 19s State Challenge which runs from Tuesday, October 3 to Thursday, October 5 during which time two country sides will play two city sides.

From those teams, selectors will choose a NSW Metro and a NSW/ACT Country squad to compete against some of the best young cricketers in the country in the under 19s National Championship in Tasmania in December this year.

Montgomery, who previously made it to nationals in the under 17s two years ago, is hopeful he will be good enough to gain selection in the NSW/ACT Country squad.

“That’s my goal,” he said.

“It’s the best pathway through at the moment.”

Despite having already played in two national carnivals, the 17-year-old fast bowler will be competing against cricketers up to two years older than him, so he said he’s got to bring his A game to make it on the under 19s national side.

“There’s a lot of good bowlers and being in the age group below, I have to perform at my best,” he said.

In May this year Mongtomery was selected for the under 19s NSW/ACT squad and has been training with them in Sydney throughout winter. From that squad, two teams were recently selected to compete in the State Challenge this week.

In addition to his state success, Montgomery has also been making waves in the school cricket competition, having been selected for the North West NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association (CHSSA) cricket squad.

Trials for the team were held last Monday in Tamworth, during which Montgomery and fellow Moree Secondary College student Chris Sim were selected in the opens side.

In November, the boys will represent the North West at the NSW CHSSA boys cricket championships in Barooga in the Riverina.