A former short-form specialist, White was once a Sydney Thunder squad-member and starred for the South Coast in the Regional Bash.

Even he expected to achieve the most success at the Australian Country Championships in the Twenty20 matches.

Then the event started and White struggled.

Twenty20 scores of 18, 4, 24, 0 and 5 were not what the batsman had anticipated.

"The first few days were tough," White said. "Coming off the Christmas holidays, not playing much cricket, I didn't score many runs.

"I was probably picked based on my Regional Bash form with the Crew, so I was expecting Twenty20 to be my go. It's one of those things, those games can go either way. I guess there were nerves, it was hard to get into games, especially batting at three, which is different to what I'm used to at home."

With five 50-over matches to follow, White was faced with two options. He could grow frustrated and likely continue to struggle, or he could reassess and refocus on what he travelled to Toowoomba to achieve.

White's turnaround was immediate, a century in the first one-day game against South Australia the trigger for a golden run of form.

Two half centuries and another ton followed, White eventually finishing with 455 runs at an average of 50.6.

"We had a half day the third day and it was a blessing for me. I was able to reassess where I was at, the whole team relaxed, we got to know each other better and just settled down.

"I scored a hundred the next day and that got me away. I was much more relaxed and started peeling a few off, which was nice."

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NSW finished with four wins from 10 matches at the tournament, the side finishing in fourth position.

Balgownie's Adam Berwick also featured for NSW Country, the top-order batsman scoring a half century against South Australia.

White was rewarded for his stunning performance at the competition with a baggy green, the Lake Illawarra star gaining selection in the Australian Country XI.

He may have experienced numerous highs in his career, but White said this honour ranks right up there among his proudest achievements.

"I set a goal at the start of the year, once I put my hand up for rep cricket, I wanted to go all the way. My only focus was an Australian cap.

"Knowing late in the competition I had just done enough was a really good feeling. Once my name was read out, it made it all worth it. I had my mum there, she got to see me score a century.

"This is right up there with my other achievements. When I made my first state side in primary school and I got to represent NSW, you don't realise what it means until you get older.

"How many players try every year to get here. It felt good to give back to country cricket and to know I'm still up there with the best players around the country."

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