Sending down a couple of thunderbolts at former Test batsman Alex Doolan was enough for tearaway Oliver Wood to believe he belonged.
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In turn that proved to be a defining moment to join the Greater Northern Raiders ahead of their new Cricket Tasmania Premier League’s club inaugural season.
The 19-year-old headed down the Midland Highway in a brief flirtation with the state’s top club competition.
So when he headed to his bowling mark only to see Launceston-raised Doolan taking up strike, Wood knew it was time to realise his full potential on a bigger stage.
“Alex was probably the one that stood out in my mind out of all them,” Wood said.
“I was lucky that he was someone I got to bowl to.
“He was incredible about the way he went about it compared to the way of the guys you get bowl to up here [in Launceston].
“He was just a really good challenge – someone like that to be able to continue to play against I think you can only learn and improve.”
There was no question Wood wanted more.
More than just beating the edge of Doolan’s bat once.
Even the offseason switch from Cricket North side Riverside to rivals Westbury wasn’t going to hasten his desire for more of it.
“The opportunities to play against some state-quality players and the different conditions you get to play down there [in Hobart], I found it’s really high quality cricket and an experience that I really enjoyed,” Wood said.
“I definitely enjoyed the pace, so I am looking forward to hopefully play a little more than that this year again.”
But the Newnham campus UTAS student did not want the hassle of relocating to Hobart like some of his peers.
Jarrod Freeman, the Mowbray offspinner who made his Australian under-19 world cup debut in January, is the latest to settle permanently south at Lindisfarne.
Not even playing under the tutelage of ex-Tasmanian coach Dan Marsh at North Hobart would draw in Wood.
“To be completely honest, I was hoping to have another summer up here,” Wood said.
“Going down to Hobart without this [Raiders] team was something I had looked at going to do. But just at the moment with studies and even some casual work up here, logistically Hobart wasn’t really an option.
“That’s a great thing about the Raiders setup – it’s allowed me to do that.”
The upside of Wood has coach Andrew Gower rushing the talent into the Raiders side for their debut against Kingborough on Saturday.
The allrounder captured 10 wickets at 25.80 for Riverside and a took a further six in Twenty20 competitions.
He averaged just 16.08 with the bat, but a top score of 77 and a slashing 79 in one of five T20 appearances demonstrated his potential.
Wood is confident teammates will adjust from Cricket North and North West competitions to the Cricket Tasmania Premier League.
“It’s not the biggest difference in the world,” Wood said, “but it’s certainly the quality of bowlers, the flatter wickets and conditions more conducive to good quality cricket more than anything.”
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
