“I’ll be putting my hand up for sure,’’ the Taree Leagues quick said soon after returning to Taree from Warrnambool in Victoria where this season’s championships were decided. He was a member of the NSW side that finished second to Queensland.

Although hampered by a niggling knee injury, Chicken finished with 10 wickets from three games. He missed two matches because of the troublesome knee.

His best performance was against South Australia in the final clash where he took 5/66 from 27.1 overs. He bowed 25 in succession.

Chicken said the knee shouldn’t cause any long term discomfort.

“It’ s a loose joint,’’ he explained. “It’ll come good.’’

Chicken played for Taree Leagues last Saturday to emphasise the point although he was only required to bowl a couple of overs towards the end of the day as the Leagues batsmen dominated.

He said the 10 day championship was a great experience.

“I suppose I had my doubts that I was good enough to bowl at that level,’’ he said.

But his fears were allayed in the opening match against ACT when he finished with 2/40.

However, NSW’s batting collapsed to lose the game by eight runs and this proved crucial in the final analysis.

“A few of our batsmen were a bit complacent,’’ he said.

“We lost 7/60 and a couple threw their wickets away.’’

As it turned out, had NSW won that match, they would have retained the trophy, as Queensland later played a draw with the ACT. Queensland finished with a draw and a loss, NSW with two losses.

Chicken said the wickets were hard and flat but gave the bowlers some assistance. Apart from a couple of days the conditions were cool.

“It was perfect for cricket,’’ he added.

He has hesitation in saying that the carnival will improve him as a bowler.

“You can only improve playing at that level,’’ he said.

Now he’s had a taste of it, Chicken wants more.

Chicken turns 26 this year and he is confident he’s coming of age as a bowler.

Now he’ll concentrate on Taree Leagues’ bid to win the Manning A-grade premiership.