With the squad set to be trimmed down to just 14 following the State Challenge, the pressure was on to deliver at the tournament in Coffs Harbour. 

And deliver he did. Zahra-Smith was one of just six batsmen at the competition to surpass 100 runs, finishing with 148 runs at an average of 49.33.

Zahra-Smith will continue to train with the Country team until the Australian Under 17 Championships in Queensland in October. 

The tournament will be held across Mackay and Brisbane, and will see a day-night one-day match held at the competition for the first time. 

Zahra-Smith’s selection comes after an impressive Illawarra summer  in which he made his first-grade debut and scored a maiden second-grade century for the Canaries.