Rostrevor College students Sam Rahaley and Mackenzie Best in SA under-17 national championships team
Australia’s best under-17 cricketers will be on display at the national championships this week including two schoolmates looking to stake their claim for a junior world cup spot.
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A pair of rising Rostrevor College stars will be part of a SA side of emerging cricketers looking to make an impact on the national stage this week.
Year 11 students Sam Rahaley and Mackenzie Best will represent the state in the Australian under-17 championships in Mackay, Queensland.
SA will take on sides from Victoria country and metro, NSW metro, ACT/NSW country, Tasmania, Queensland and a Cricket Australia XI in the tournament from Monday, September 30 to Thursday, October 10.
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Rahaley, of Kensington Park, will be aiming for another strong carnival after impressing with 249 runs at 35.57 for the CA XI in last year’s competition.
The right-hander’s displays earned selection as an underage player for the under-19 national championships, a feat Rahaley hopes to match.
It could also open the door for a shot at making the Australian under-19 World Cup team.
“If I do well, it gives me the opportunity to compete in the under-19 championships,” says Rahaley, who became the youngest player to represent Kensington at first-grade level when he debuted in January, 2018 at 15 years and six days old.
“I’m only going to get the opportunity to compete in the World Cup if I can get into the under-19 championships and do well there.”
Best, from Wirrulla on the Eyre Peninsula, is a left-arm fast bowler and represented SA in last year’s under-17 national championships.
The Port Adelaide Cricket Club quick says “I know what I need to do” ahead of the tournament.
“As a fast bowler, it’s about having a plan and executing it well,” Best, 16, says.
Best and Rahaley will be joined in the 14-strong squad by Kensington’s Joshua Sims, Max Kelly, Darcy McRostie and Samuel Warrick.
Sturt pair Carl Arnold and Sebastian Young along with Glenelg duo Isaac Higgins and Zack McCabe have also gained selection.
Lachlan Murphy (Southern District), Jamison Murphy (Woodville), Tejas Gill (Adelaide) and Jeremy Hackett (East Torrens) round out the squad.
patrick.keam@news.com.au