TAREE cricket product Nick Larkin believes his form over the next month could determine whether he'll be considered for the Irish squad for the World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand, next February.
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Larkin qualifies for Irish selection through his grandfather. He is currently in his second stint playing for Northern Knights in the Emerald Isle and made his debut for Ireland in the recent one day series against Sri Lanka A recently. He earlier played for Ireland A.
The Sri Lankans won two of the three games comfortably, with the third washed out. Larkin had moderate returns in both games, making a duck in the first and 16 in the second.
"I have a lot to prove in the next month,'' Larkin said from Ireland this week.
"There are plenty of players in the squad who are currently across playing country cricket in England.''
Selectors hadn't named the side for the third match against Sri Lanka A before the game was abandoned. Larkin wasn't too confident that he would have been playing had the game gone ahead. A squad of 14 was named for the series.
"My gut feeling was that I would have carried the drinks,'' he said.
Larkin hopes to be back in Australia for the start of the Sydney first grade season, where he'll line up with defending premiers Sydney University. Irish selectors will monitor his form in Australia leading up to naming the cup squad.
"Having played a lot of cricket in Australia might give me an advantage,'' Larkin reasoned.
"But at the end of the day it all boils down to scoring enough runs.''
Larkin said he's been in 'reasonable form' in Ireland this season.
"But I've failed to capitalise on plenty of decent starts,'' he added.
Larkin had a golden summer with Sydney Uni and on the representative scene last season. He was Sydney Uni's leading run scorer, topping 1000 for all matches. He also gained selection in the NSW Futures League team and the State second XI, where he scored a century in the final match against ACT.
Larkin said one of his goals for the next Australian season will be to push for a regular spot in the State second XI.
"I'll take things from there,'' he said.
He's also hoping to score plenty of runs again with Sydney Uni.
Larkin played his early cricket with Taree West and graduated to A-grade before heading to Sydney.
Meanwhile Manning Cricket Association's planning committee will meet on Wednesday, August 27 to put in place plans for the 2014/15 season. Senior competitions look set to start on Saturday, October 11.
