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Central North selectors have named a 20-player under-16s squad following the weekend's Northern NSW Pathway's Challenge in Tamworth.
The team will be finalised in mid-November ahead of next year's Bradman Cup.
SQUAD: Sam Anderson, Ryan Campbell, Zac Craig, Joe Hancock, Charlie Harris, Sid Harvey, Charlie Henderson, Jack Knight, Jett Lee, Ben Livingstone, Carter McIlveen, Ed Montgomery, Sam Murphy, Tom Porter, Tim Shields, Logan Spinks, Alex Stafa, Tom Thorpe, Charlie Walker, Oscar Walker.
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Richard Bullock is excited about the potential of the Central North Colts side from what he saw at the Northern NSW Pathways Challenge held in Tamworth over the long weekend.
The three-day carnival doubled as a selection trial for the team to play at the Country Colts Championships later in the year.
Bullock was co-coach of the Central North Red team on the weekend and will be part of the coaching team for the December carnival.
He predicted some tough decisions for the selectors.
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"The problem the selectors have got there's probably 25 kids that need to be fit into 13 or 14 spots," he said.
"Everyone's really put their hand up this weekend."
One of the most pleasing things was the way that some of last year's under-16s stepped up.
"Some of them have handled it really really well," Bullock said.
ACT/NSW Country under-17s reps Landan Price and Dylan Smith, Zac Craig and Lachlan Page were a few that sprung to mind.
![On the front foot: Charlie Henderson has started the season in good form. He scored a half-century for the Northern Inland Gold side in the opening game of the weekend. Photo: Gareth Gardner 031020GGD02 On the front foot: Charlie Henderson has started the season in good form. He scored a half-century for the Northern Inland Gold side in the opening game of the weekend. Photo: Gareth Gardner 031020GGD02](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/ingYyB85ps4jmG9t8mfsHP/21f07160-9181-4889-8150-b2629aa5a16b.jpg/r0_0_1412_1782_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The latter skippered the Red team, and Bullock found his captaincy "well beyond his years as far as maturity."
Opening for the Red side, Jack Hamilton was one of the most consistent performers with the bat and seemed to get better over the weekend, building up from 20 in his first knock to 43 on Monday.
Last year he was a late inclusion for the Central North side and was Bullock said, "probably the best bat we had".
Alex McNeill, who captained the Navy side, was another to impress hitting 56 against the Red. Cotter Litchfield also made 40 in that game.
Northern Inland's best under-16s talent was also in action.
Charlie Henderson and Ed Montgomery were two to shine. Both hit half-centuries - Henderson 63 and Montgomery 54no - for the Gold side in their opening game, the latter backing up with three wickets.
Charlie Harris was also a strong allround performer. He was consistently among the top scorers and in the wickets.
Ryan Campbell was another to stand up. He picked at least a wicket in all four games and also chipped in with knocks of 27 and 32.