Nathan McAndrew can feel a Sheffield Shield debut is within his grasp.
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An Oak Flats product who has become a mainstay for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, the bowling all-rounder has long dreamt of playing in Australia's premier red-ball competition.
With the new season just weeks away, McAndrew is confident this will be the year he is handed an opportunity.
Instead of wearing the NSW baggy blue, however, the 28-year-old will be in a red South Australian cap.
"NSW is a place I was very passionate about," McAndrew said. "It's a place I wanted to play Shield cricket but I wasn't getting that opportunity.
"As much as I'd love to represent the Blues, I felt like for me to progress my career, I had to go somewhere I could get more opportunities."
McAndrew moved to South Australia in June and was greeted by a bitterly cold Adelaide winter.
While the temperatures were icy, the reception from coach Jason Gillespie and the Redbacks squad could not have been warmer.
The Test legend led a gruelling pre-season, determined to ensure the side builds on a disappointing 2020-21.
McAndrew has formed a bond with Gillespie, the all-rounder constantly learning what it takes to pick up regular wickets in red-ball cricket.
"There's nothing particular in my game I need to reinvent or change, it's more about tweaking little things and improving. To have someone like Jason around to bounce ideas off, get feedback, constructive criticism, even compliments is great.
"I had a good chat this week with him about how things are going. He's happy with how I've been progressing in pre-season. It's been enjoyable to work with him and we'll continue that throughout the season."
In moving to Adelaide, McAndrew follows a path paved by fellow South Coast Cricket talent Adam Zampa.
The Warilla junior's career took off after he joined the Redbacks and he is now considered Australia's best white-ball spin bowler.
McAndrew's first opportunity to represent his new team was set to come this weekend, however Sydney's coronavirus outbreak resulted in a delay of the domestic one-day competition.
South Australia will now play Western Australia in a 50-overs match on September 22 before the two teams face off in the Sheffield Shield opener on September 24.
McAndrew is confident he has what it takes to thrive in both formats and he's eager to put his hand up for selection in coming days.
"We're coming off two weeks of white-ball trials that I performed pretty well in," McAndrew said. "We have a three-day intra-squad trial this week and I'm hoping for more of the same.
"Bowling is all about consistency, executing line and length ball after ball. That's what they want to see. Getting some runs and showing I can play that all-round role will also help my cause."
While he has left the Blues, McAndrew remains attached to NSW cricket through the Sydney Thunder.
The all-rounder made headlines in the Twenty20 competition last summer and he's eager to build on that success this year and help the team challenge for the Big Bash title.
"There's a bit of cricket to be played between now and then. The squad is shaping up to be a strong group, so I'm excited for what our campaign will look like."
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