NATHAN Fitzpatrick is feeling excitement and nerves as he prepares for his Australian Country Cricket Championships debut in Wollongong next week.
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The 19-year-old all-rounder is one of three Bendigo District Cricket Association representatives in the 14-man Victorian squad.
He is joined by Strathdale Maristians all-rounder and regular state country representative Cam Taylor and Sandhurst all-rounder Taylor Beard, who like Fitzpatrick is also making his debut.
Fitzpatrick, who has taken 19 wickets this season for Bendigo at an average of 16.21, admits he was shocked to be selected in the squad, but plans on making the most of the opportunity.
"It was a bit of a shock when I got the call from the coach - I bowled okay in the first few matches this season but I didn't expect anything like that," he said.
"I went to the trials and I eventually got through which is awesome.
"There's a few of us young guys in there, two 21-year-olds who are both bowlers, so we'll see how we go with a bit of a youth."
The Victorians are chasing their first championships win since 2006-07 in Sunraysia.
The team finished runner-up to South Australia at last year's championships in Mount Gambier.
Five players from last year's line-up, including Taylor, are backing up in Wollongong, with coach Jason Mathers confident this year's squad contained greater depth.
"He's confident of us taking that step further," he said.
"It makes it easier for me knowing a couple of people (Taylor and Beard).
"And it's great getting to talk to some of the other boys who are some of the best cricketers going around about how they go about things and what they are thinking about when they are batting bowling. It's fantastic."
The championships run from January 3-11, with each state playing five one-day matches and five Twenty20 games.
Victoria opens its campaign the reigning champions ahead of a clash against perennial powerhouse New South Wales.
Focus for Fitzpatrick after the championships will return to attempting to lift Bendigo up the BDCA ladder.
The Goers are in eighth position with two wins and four losses.
Fitpatrick was confident they could return to the sort of form that saw the Goers win their opening two matches of the 2016-17 season.
"We definitely have the talent to do it, but obviously luck has to go our way a bit," he said.
"From a team perspective we started 2-0, but it's gone a bit downhill from there.
"We lost a few tight ones, which is a bit disappointing."
