ONE of Gunnedah's fastest rising cricket stars has shone during a recent tour of the United Kingdom.
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Adam McGuirk lined up for the NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) cricket team on the 23-day tour.
The right-handed batsman played a vital role in the 15-man squad's success on the field.
Playing games against the likes of Winchester, Glamorgan and Pentrych, the team finished with eight wins from 11 games.
McGuirk guided his team to victory with a half-century against Winchester.
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However, it was not to be the youngster's top score of the tour, with him notching up a century during a club game against Westminster Abbey.
McGuirk said the tour was a "once in a lifetime experience".
"It was such an amazing experience," McGuirk told the Leader.
"Everyone we met while over there was really friendly and we got to play some really enjoyable cricket.
"It's a lovely country and I had the best time."
For McGuirk, the tour marked the first time he had played alongside many of his new teammates.
"I had played against all of them at some stage or another," he said.
"But aside from Issac Baker, this was the first time I had played with pretty much the other 13 guys.
"It didn't really matter though, we all got along really well and played some really good cricket."
McGuirk said the four-day Tonbridge cricket festival was a highlight of the tour.
"There was a lot of really talented cricketers playing at the festival," he said.
"In fact, we even played against a guy who will play for the United Arab Emirates at the upcoming under-19 World Cup.
"As well as that, pretty much all of the opposition batsmen were just so confident.
"They had no fears about playing ramp shots and reverse shots, which made for some really good cricket."
Playing his club cricket for Old Boys in the Tamworth District Association, McGuirk said the tour had left him hungry for more success.
"I'd love to go back and play a season over there once I finish high school," he said.
"It was just so much fun playing over there, I'd love to give a really good go in a couple of years.
"The big thing I took from the tour was the improvement to my mental toughness.
"The conditions meant that a lot of times you just had to be mentally tough and hang in there.
"That mental toughness is something I'll look to take with me that's for sure."