Dharmini Chauhan thought her junior representative career had come to an end after January's National Under 18 Championships.
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A gap year spent playing in England was to follow, before she returned home to play in the Sydney women's first grade competition.
Coronavirus put an end to the plans for a trip to the United Kingdom, before a Cricket Australia restructure of the girls pathways saw the Wollongong resident's junior career extended.
Chauhan was this week, selected in the NSW Metro under 19s squad, which will train throughout the next few months before a final team is picked for December's National Championships.
Wests junior Kayla Burton was named in the ACT/NSW Country female squad, while Greater Illawarra pair Jayden Zahra-Smith and Dominic O'Shannessy were picked in the ACT/NSW Country male squad.
Given this is the first year female under 19 squads have been selected, Chauhan said the call-up came as a shock.
"I was a bit surprised because we haven't had under 19s before," Chauhan said.
"I thought last year was my last year of junior representative cricket. I was expecting just to travel along with cricket outside of the NSW underage squads.
"Now they've introduced under 19s, I got the call about being in that team and thought 'righto, under 19s is here'. It was a bit of a shock."
The batting all-rounder has emerged as a future talent, progressing through the junior representative system before captaining NSW Metro at January's Under 18 National Championships.
Last summer saw Chauhan make the switch from Campbelltown-Camden to Parramatta, where she impressed in first grade. The 18-year-old also played fourth grade for Wollongong alongside her father.
Chauhan recognises joining Parramatta was a risk, but it's one she's glad she took.
"It was a good season, I really enjoyed it. They're a great bunch of girls, we're all similar age and got on well.
"I got more of an opportunity with Parramatta. I was able to bat up the order and bowl here and there when they needed me.
"The move was about me wanting to explore other options and see how it goes. It was an enjoyable year, so I'm glad I made the change."
A stress fracture has impacted Chauhan's ability to train in recent weeks, however she has been working hard to maintain fitness throughout the shutdown.
With restrictions easing, the teenager is excited to get back into training and start preparing for what should be a busy summer.
"My first goal is to make the final under 19 metro side, then hopefully I'm performing well throughout the season, scoring runs and taking wickets."