With Australia's top cricketers preparing to defend their World Cup title this winter, a pair of Illawarra juniors are set to embark on a United Kingdom tour of their own later this year.
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Northern Districts wicketkeeper Aidan Cook and Dapto batsman Jayden Zahra-Smith will embark on a three-and-a-half week tour of the United Kingdom in June and July after gaining selection in the NSW Combined High Schools team.
Cook said he is extremely keen to hop on the plane and test himself overseas.
"It's a great opportunity, I was really honoured to get the opportunity to play for CHS," Cook said.
"A lot of good cricketers have gone on this tour, Jason Sangha has been on it, he's now the under 19 Australian captain. It's a great opportunity and I can't wait to go.
"I'm good mates with Jayden, played against him in first grade this year, we've played together in rep teams. It's a good opportunity to go overseas with him, it should be a good experience for both of us."
This summer has been a big one for Cook, having spent the majority of the season in the Butchers minor premiership-winning first grade side. He's hopeful the foreign English conditions will help prepare him for another successful summer with Northern Districts and beyond.
As a 16-year-old, Cook was not even alive the last time Australia won an Ashes tour in England, such have been Australia's struggles abroad in recent times.
With that in mind, he knows this tour will throw up its challenges, however he's confident he will be able to adjust to the conditions.
"To play cricket at a higher level, this is a state team playing overseas against some of the best counties in England, getting that experience playing against good teams is huge.
"I think it will develop my game, going overseas and playing high-level cricket.
"Hopefully I'll bring back some skills and new ways to play the game back in Australia and carry that into the season next year. It's sort of like an off-season carnival, a bit of off-season training and development."
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