Nick Foster named in NSW Country Cricket’s top-25 players since 2000

NSW Country Cricket’s top-25 players since 2000, best XI named

There are local legends and country cricket heroes who rank among the best to have come from the bush. We’ve put together a list of the best players of the last 25 years, and name a top XI.

By Alex Pichaloff (Daily Telegraph)

Country NSW has long been one of the top breeding grounds for cricketing talent, with some of the game’s greats coming from the bush.

In honour of that, we’ve put together a list of the top-25 NSW male country cricketers from the past 25 years.

However rather than pick an All-Star Test squad full of the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, we’ve decided to highlight those who have done the business in the bush, playing in country competitions and representative carnivals.

This also means that the likes of outstanding first-class players such as Jason Sangha, Joe Mennie and Tom Cooper, just to name a few, will miss out on a spot given that they spent the bulk of their careers in metro areas playing Shield cricket.

As always, the time frame considered for such an undertaking, from 2000 to 2025, can make things tricky and has also meant that some outstanding cricketers have been overlooked as they played much of their wonderful careers in the pre-2000 era. A few that come to mind here include Steve Mace, Michael Gerits, Craig Haworth and Glenn Grimmond.

Finally, given the difficulty in comparing the value of tons and five-wicket hauls in various country competitions, in most cases performances in representative tournaments such as the NSW Country Championships and indeed the Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC) have been given considerable weighting.

Armed with some facts and figures from stats guru Adam Morehouse and input from leading coaches, players and administrators, here are our top-25 players, complete with a best XI, listed in batting order.

The Best XI

1

GRAEME BATTY

Illawarra/Greater Illawarra

A star performer at club level and for Illawarra/Greater Illawarra over the years, Batty was a mainstay at the top of the order for NSW Country for seven straight seasons, averaging a healthy 34 as opener on at times tricky pitches all around the country.

A versatile batsman who could go after the bowlers or dig in depending on the situation, the Balgownie junior scored two centuries and nine half-centuries for the Bush Blues, was named NSW Country’s player of the tournament at the Australian Country Champs in 2010 and 2012 and was twice picked in the Australian Country Merit XI.

Captain of the side for two years, a highlight included leading the Bush Blues to the 2013 title with an undefeated campaign in Bundaberg. He capped off the magical tournament with a final-day masterclass in which he took four wickets and then scored a magnificent 122 to help NSW defeat Victoria Country in the final over.

2

JORDAN MORAN

Western

One of the most impressive country cricketers across the board, Moran holds the rare record of starring for two states at the ACCC.

Originally from Dubbo, the left-handed opener first made a name for himself plundering runs for Western zone at the NSW Country Champs, where he still holds the all-time runscoring record with 1127 at an average of 47.

With an attacking mindset and as a player who liked to put pressure on the bowlers, Moran took this form to national level, starring for the Bush Blues and earning an Australia Country Merit cap in 2017.

While his NSW Country career finished after just three seasons, Moran continued to star at all levels after moving to Geelong, subsequently representing Victoria Country with distinction. His combined record for both states makes him the eighth-highest runscorer in ACCC history, just a couple of spots ahead of his opening partner.

3

SIMON MOORE (C)

Newcastle

Affectionately known as ‘King’, Moore is country cricket royalty, widely regarded as one of the most dominant players of his era and a clear favourite to be named skipper of this ‘best of’ side.

Originally from local club Cardiff-Boolaroo, the top-order batter – who could also bowl seam and keep wicket at times – made a name for himself and became a legend of the Merewether cricket club in Newcastle.

At a representative level he starred for country heavyweights Newcastle and then played 71 games for NSW Country (67 between 2000 and 2025), the second-most for the Bush Blues. He has scored more runs than any other NSW player at the Australian country championships (2747 at 40) and sits second on the all-time list.

A four-time Australian country champs winner with NSW Country, he was man of the series in 2005-06 after hitting 394 runs at 78, was named NSW Country player of the year in 2010-11 and selected in the Australian Country Merit team on multiple occasions.

Still playing third grade cricket for Merewether, the 49-year-old’s legacy has only grown in recent times. In 2019 he was inducted into the Australian Country Cricket hall of fame and in recent years the Newcastle District Cricket under-16s competition, the SG Moore Cup, was named in his honour.

However, perhaps the best tribute comes from longtime teammate and good mate Pat Rosser.

“The best bloke you ever want to play with in cricket because you want him in the trenches. He’s tough, a competitor, but also very calm and a brilliant batsman. And he’s an even better bloke!”

4

MARK LITTLEWOOD

Newcastle

Ultra-competitive and incredibly skilful with both the bat and ball, 'Splinter' is widely regarded as one of the finest country cricketers of the modern era.

With the ability to anchor an innings as well as go through the gears, the Belmont all-rounder piled on the runs for Newcastle during his 15 years at NSW Country level, of which close to a decade were as captain. In a sign of his own leadership and the team’s dominance, Newcastle won the crown a remarkable eight times over this period.

At Australian Country level Littlewood was typically first class and finished his Bush Blues career with the impressive average of 43, highlighted by an amazing 223 not out against East Asia Pacific in 2009, in what remains the highest individual score in ACCC history.

If that wasn’t enough, he also took bags of wickets with his seamers, with his all-round ability, competitiveness and intensity seeing him play second XI cricket for both the ACT and South Australia.

“He was one of those players who was very passionate and ultra-competitive at everything he did,” said one former teammate. “He had to try and be the best at everything, which was a great attribute. He played cricket hard but played cricket fair.”

5

JEFF COOK

Central North

The player with arguably the greatest cricketing CV of all in this squad, St George junior Cook enjoyed a decade-long professional career in England that saw him play 144 games, primarily for Northamptonshire, and even acted as a substitute fielder for England in a 2001 test match against Pakistan at Lord’s when he filled in for injured England captain Nasser Hussain.

After returning home in the early 2000s he found his way to Tamworth, where he well and truly showed his class in country cricket for Central North and NSW Country.

An excellent batsman, Cook scored runs for fun in local and zone cricket, and captained the Bush Blues at the ACCC with distinction. And despite being personally rather dismissive of his own bowling ability, his teammates tell a different story of his medium-pacers, which included some very memorable spells.

“Once he bowled for a session straight in shit conditions,” said one former teammate.

“We got a low score and won by about five runs. We didn’t get enough runs but he bowled for a session, went for about two an over and got a few wickets to basically set us up to win the game.”

He added: “He was unbelievable in the field too, he could get horizontal and take speccies.”

6

CALEB ZIEBELL

North Coastal

A dual NSW Country representative in rugby league and cricket, the all-rounder from the Tweed Coast is one of the most remarkable athletes in regional sport.

An excellent striker of the ball who can either clear the fence or knuckle down, 'Buddha' is also an imposing quick who can fire the ball down at pace and generate spicy bounce from length deliveries.

The 30-year-old – who just made a return to cricket with club side Cudgen – first starred for North Coastal at NSW rep level before going on to stand out for the Bush Blues at the Australian country champs, where he averages 31 with the bat and 15 with the ball.

In a truly remarkable achievement, at one stage Ziebell was the reigning NSW Country Rugby League rep player of the year and NSW Country Cricket player of the year at the same time, with his efforts across 2018 and 2019 the stuff of legends.

“He’s the best sportsman I’ve ever seen,” said Pat Rosser, a teammate of Ziebell’s in both cricket and rugby league for the Cudgen Hornets. “He’s a matchwinner with both the bat and ball.”

7

BEN WOOLMER

Newcastle

The leg-spinner from Newcastle was almost unplayable for a few years in the mid-2000s as he carried his club and zone form into NSW Country colours and beyond.

Generally bowling fairly flat and quick leggies that weren’t particularly common at the time, he took a tournament-high 24 wickets in his debut Australian country campaign in 2004-05. This was highlighted by a magnificent 7-93 against Victoria Country on a flat track in Lismore, and he was duly named joint player of the carnival.

It launched a stunning couple of years as he was named NSW Country cricketer of the year two seasons in a row and went on to play for the NSW Second XI.

Finishing his Bush Blues career as NSW Country’s fourth-highest wicket-taker with 52 scalps at 23.8, Woolmer was also more than handy with the bat and could have slotted into the top four in a lot of teams.

At rep level he most famously scored a flashy 108 against Victoria Country in 2009 to dig his side out of trouble, while he joined rare company as a grand final double-hundred maker when he compiled a monster 209 not out for club side Charlestown in the 2005-06 Newcastle decider.

8

TOM GROTH

Central North

Before Alex Carey stood up to the quicks in the Ashes, Tom Groth was doing it for NSW Country.

The wicketkeeper from Tamworth was a master with the gloves and wrote himself into country cricket history over the course of his 13 consecutive years with the Bush Blues.

He holds the record for the most games for NSW Country with 83, while he is streets ahead in terms of dismissals, with 126 catches and 15 stumpings.

He made the Australian Country Merit side in both 2012 and 2014, with his approach to the game and reputation as one of the great touring teammates etching Groth into country cricket folklore.

9

ANDREW MAHER

Newcastle

From Doug Walters country in the Hunter Valley town of Dungog, Maher was a bustling quick with an exceptional record at club and representative level.

After making the move to Newcastle as a young man, Maher actually turned down the chance to pursue a career with the Newcastle Knights in rugby league and instead set about making a name for himself at local club Hamilton-Wickham.

With good pace and the ability to move the ball off the seam, he was a real weapon with the new ball, enjoying a stint in Sydney grade cricket with Blacktown before returning to Hamwicks and then going on to play Second XI cricket with the ACT.

Maher really showed his quality at representative level, taking 59 wickets at 19.8 in his 31 games for NSW Country to sit third on the all-time record of wickets for the Bush Blues.

His rep career hit a high point in 2012 when he was named in the Australian Country Merit team on the back of an outstanding carnival that included taking 6-38 from 18 overs against the ACT in 43-degree heat.

10

NICK FOSTER

Newcastle

When it comes to records, few can match the off-spinner from Newcastle, who has enjoyed – and continues to enjoy – a long and storied career.

In more than two decades representing his hometown he sits at the top of the tree in terms of wickets taken at NSW Country carnivals with 83 at an average of less than 17, streets ahead of the next best, while he is fourth on the Bush Blues’ list at national carnivals with 54 scalps at 27.9.

Not just an excellent bowler and handy lower-order batter, the 2020-21 NSW Country Cricketer of the Year has proven to be an incredibly shrewd captain and fantastic tactician, leading Newcastle on its recent historic run of six-straight country championship titles.

Not to be forgotten is his immense contribution to local club Stockton and Northern Districts, with Foster helping to turn the Seagulls into heavyweights in what is regarded by many as the premier country cricket competition in the state.

11

SCOTT BURKINSHAW

Central Coast

Aggressive, strong and with the ticker to charge in all day, the Central Coast stalwart has been a longstanding menace with the new ball in country cricket.

With 64 poles at a miserly 15.1, Burkinshaw sits above all others as the leading wicket-taker for NSW Country in ACCC history, with his ability to move the ball off the seam, take it away from the outside edge and keep it tight at the death putting him among the best in bush.

A two-time Australian Country Merit player, the now 31-year-old is still doing the business, having recently played a key role in the Central Coast’s first-ever NSW country championship title this summer.

12-25 of the Top 25 

JOSH BENNETT

Western, Newcastle

Few players were as destructive as the fast bowler from Milthorpe in the state’s Central West during a golden couple of years that saw him emerge as one of the best quicks in country cricket.

After initially breaking onto the scene for Western and then making the move to Newcastle, Bennett exploded into the rep arena in 2013.

With plenty of pace and the ability to take the ball away from right-handers, he took a remarkable 22 wickets at just 13 to finish his debut campaign for NSW Country as the leading wicket-taker as the Bush Blues went through the carnival undefeated to claim the title.

After a very successful stint in Sydney grade cricket, Bennett moved to Canberra to play in the Second XI competition before returning to Newcastle to spearhead much of the Hunter’s side six-year dominance at NSW Country carnival level.

MARK CAMERON

Newcastle

Perhaps one of the most unusual selections in the list given the criteria, the former NSW Shield quick forces his way into the top 25 largely based on a stunning late-career resurgence in club cricket.

With 68 first-class wickets at 24.6 and the ridiculous strike rate of 45, figures that helped earn him an Australia A call-up in 2010, Cameron is perhaps best known by cricket fans as one of NSW’s most talented fast bowlers of the 2000s, whose career was cruelly curtailed by back injuries.

However ‘Scud’ first burst onto the scene for local Newcastle club Lambton-New Lambton (now Wests) and earned selection for NSW Country at the Australian Country Champs in Albany in 2001.

Still only 19, Cameron ran riot in WA, taking 11 wickets at an average of 9.8 in the first three games before injury finished his tournament early in an unfortunate precursor of what was to come.

While his talent took him to Sydney and then briefly Perth for a professional career, Cameron returned home 13 years later with Newcastle club Merewether, where he produced one of the most amazing runs seen in the country cricket.

Across four seasons in the local first grade competition he took a remarkable 186 wickets at the ridiculous average 9.75. Unsurprisingly, Merewether won just about everything on offer during this golden period, claiming the grand final in all four seasons the big quick played as well as the SCG Country Cup in 2012-13 and 2014-15.

TIM COX

Western

The epitome of a bush workhorse, Cox was a talented and ever-reliable fast bowler who could bowl long spells into the wind, put it on a hanky all day and move it both ways. He was also a handy source of runs down the order.

Playing his first game of senior cricket with his dad in Dubbo RSL Colts’ third grade side at the age of 12, the young gun made an immediate impression by taking a hat-trick with the first three balls of the game.

After rising through the Western ranks he made the move to Sydney and enjoyed a decade-long career for University – with a couple of seasons in the Yorkshire League thrown in between.

After moving back to the family farm in Dubbo he took part in a glorious era for the RSL Colts that saw them win seven first grade titles in a row, while he took his wickets at the ridiculous average of 16 while representing the Bush Blues, earning the gong for NSW Country player of the year in 2014-15.

In addition to his winning touch, Cox seemed to have a knack for breaking droughts. He was part of the Western team that won its first state title in 2001 and then at the age of 41 helped Toronto win its first grand final in the Newcastle comp in 2018-19.

PAT DARWEN

Newcastle

The teenage prodigy and Australia under-19s representative is the perfect cricketing example of someone benefiting from a tree change.

After bursting onto the scene and becoming Bankstown’s youngest ever first grader at 16, playing under the captaincy of none other than Test legend Mark Waugh, Darwen become somewhat disillusioned with the sport in his early 20s and gave it away for 18 months before a move to Newcastle helped him rekindle his love for the game.

What followed was an outstanding career for local club Merewether, Newcastle and NSW Country.

A classy batter and more than handy off-spin bowler, Darwen had a knack of performing under pressure, perhaps best demonstrated in 2017 when he almost single-handedly rescued an innings with an inspirational ton for the Bush Blues against Queensland after the side had earlier fallen to a disastrous 4-7.

That year was somewhat of a high-water mark in his rep career. He was awarded another baggy green to go with his under-19s honours when named in the Australian Country Merit Team on the back of a carnival that saw him score 377 runs at 54 and take 18 wickets at 12.

KAINE HARMSWORTH

Central Coast

A big body with plenty of power, the all-rounder from the Central Coast provided more than his share of highlights over the course of his impressive career.

A regular for NSW Country following his debut in 2010, Harmsworth showed his class for the Bush Blues, averaging 32 with the bat and 31 with his medium-fast seamers across his 36 games for the state.

And while injury did hinder his career – and particularly his bowling – at times, Harmsworth still had the ability to take teams apart with both the bat and ball, and was duly recognised as one of the most talented country cricketers with selection in the Australian Country Merit team.

JONO NICOLL

Riverina

When it comes to Riverina cricket, Nicoll is absolute royalty.

A stalwart of the Wagga City Cats, the determined top-order batter and handy bowler, who also won a Second XI title with the ACT, has a record that will be difficult to ever match at club level.

With an attitude of valuing his wicket to the nth degree, Nicoll made 11,339 runs in his grade career at the remarkable average of 70.86. He finished unbeaten in one-third of his knocks, exceptional considering he spent most of the time opening the bat or coming in at first drop.

He was awarded the Brian Lawrence Medal as the player of the year in Wagga cricket a remarkable seven times over the course of his career and backed this up with two equivalent DB Robin Medals as best player in the Canberra comp during his time with Weston Creek.

Nicoll also showed that he could more than do the job at rep level, averaging an incredible 119 for Riverina at NSW Country Championships and showing his class and tenaciousness for NSW Country.

In typical form, he was dismissed just 10 times in his 21 games for the Bush Blues and finished with an average of 39.7 with the bat. A highlight came in his debut in 2017 when he hit a century against Western Australia on debut.

“You could just never get him out. He would just bat and bat and bat and bat,” said one ex-Bush Blues teammate. “Like a Rahul Dravid-type, he just kept going.”

BEN NOTT

Riverina, Western

With some of the sharpest hands in the bush, Nott was widely regarded as one of the best glovesman in country cricket for a period in the early 2000s.

Originally from Cootamundra, he rose up through the Riverina system before breaking into the NSW Country team for the first time in 2002.

What followed was an outstanding career for the Bush Blues that saw him take 64 catches and make 10 stumpings with his silky hands, while he also averaged a healthy 30 with the willow as he went on to be named in the Australian Country Merit side.

JOE PRICE

Newcastle

An aggressive batsman with shots all over the park and a competitive, in-your-face bowler, the all-rounder from Newcastle was a force of nature who had a knack of coming up with big plays at huge moments to write himself into NSW Country cricket folklore.

While he hadn’t always shown what he could do at the national level, Price will be long remembered for his matchwinning performances that led the side to an unlikely victory in the 2018 carnival in Geraldton.

With NSW requiring two double bonus point victories on the final two days to give itself any chance of jagging the title, Price was like a man possessed, first blasting 64 in 30 balls to get past Western Australia’s total of 213 inside 25 overs before taking a remarkable 3-12 to help skittle South Australia for just 95 and ultimately claim the championship on net run rate.

Aside from his decorated rep career, Price continues to be a stalwart for Wests in the local Newcastle competition, joining rare company by being named the NDCA player of the year twice, some 12 years apart.

NATHAN PRICE

Newcastle

Perhaps another outlier in this list due to the fact that he only played one tournament for NSW Country, the batting all-rounder from Newcastle earns his way into the top 25 on the back of his sheer talent and performances at both club and zone level.

An incredibly aggressive batsman who liked to dominate the bowlers at every opportunity, he was also a dangerous change bowler and a gun fielder – whether in the slips or the outfield.

After bursting into the top grade as a teenager, Price quickly gained a reputation locally after plundering runs for club side Wallsend before going on to represent Newcastle and NSW Country, the latter coming at just the age of 20.

Price then enjoyed an outstanding decade-long career in Sydney. In a sign of the high regard in which he is held, he was named alongside the likes of Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Simon Katich and fellow Novocastrians Burt Cockley and Jason Sangha in Randwick-Petersham’s team of the past 25 years.

While this would normally rule him ineligible for this list, Price – who also played Second XI cricket for both NSW and the ACT and represented the Australian Indigenous team – returned to captain-coach Wallsend from the 2017-18 season.

And while he was unable to commit to extensive representative commitments due to work and family commitments, he captained the Newcastle rep side and went on to be one of the most dominant players in the Newcastle competition for the next seven years before retiring in fairytale fashion.

Playing in the 2024-25 grand final in what was Wallsend’s centenary season, Price hit a remarkable 206 not out for the Tigers to claim the premiership in his last game of cricket.

PAT ROSSER

Western, North Coastal

A dual country championships winner in both cricket and rugby league, Rosser is one of the most high regarded sportsmen – and indeed characters – in country NSW sport.

A supremely talented left-arm orthodox spinner and devastating batter who could change a game in a session, the all-rounder from Parkes first made a name for himself at country level for Western before duly earning state honours with the Bush Blues, for whom he averaged 33 with the bat and just 18 with the ball over the course of his career.

Rosser’s glittering representative career also includes selection in NSW and Australian Indigenous sides, while a move to the Tweed Coast has seen him continue to play with distinction in the Northern Rivers.

Just last season the 42-year-old was named player of the season for the top-line LJ Hooker League after taking 39 wickets at 8.4 for club side Cudgen in a premiership-winning season. Meanwhile he was also part of this summer's North Coastal rep team that made the final in both the NSW country championships and T20 Country Bash finals.

GRAEME SMITH

Greater Illawarra

He might share a very famous name with a certain former South Africa captain, but the South Coast all-rounder well and truly made his own way with an outstanding cricketing career.

A dynamic left-handed batsman who hit the ball incredibly hard and excellent seamer who bowled at a good click and could take the ball away, Smith would sometimes famously open the batting and bowling in the same game.

After leaving home early to test himself in Sydney grade cricket, he returned to the south coast and worked his way through the country rep system.

With a super competitive strain, it was here that he really came to life and stepped up for NSW Country.

“When he turned up to those country champs he was just miles above everyone,” said one former teammate.

“Every time we went to nationals he was the best all-rounder there and he just walked into the Aussie (Country) team.”

He added: “He was TV ability, he was that good.”

Not just a star at rep level, Smith continued to be a long-time contributor for hometown club Albion Park, where he sits among the Eagles’ all-time best in terms of both runs and wickets.

RANDALL STARR

Southern Zone/ACT

The Grafton-born, Shellharbour-raised wicketkeeper-batsman enjoyed an illustrious country cricket career that saw him take on some of the best from regional NSW and the world at large.

An aggressive batter and sharp gloveman, he was a dominant force in south coast cricket, became a key figure for Southern Zone and was a mainstay of the NSW Country side in the early part of the millennium, where he averaged a very healthy 35 with the bat across his 24 games in sky blue.

A move to Canberra led to a five-year career for the ACT in the national Second XI competition, with a highlight coming in 2008 when Starr was selected in an ACT XI to take on the touring India side at Manuka Oval.

“It was amazing. At that stage I never used to get too nervous playing but I had all my mates down from the coast and when I was walking out to bat I can just remember my heart beating out of my chest,” he said.

“Harbhajan (Singh) was bowling and first ball I’ve played this big sweep shot and thought I’d hit it for six, but it bounced just short and went for four.

“I swept him again two balls later. He ended up putting two blokes back on the sweep for me. It was crazy. MS Dhoni was fielding at mid-on trying to talk in an Aussie accent. ‘Come on, mate. Hit one to me, mate.’ It was so fun.”

For the record, the sweeping Starr made a handy 27 that day.

CAMERON SUIDGEEST

Riverina, Southern Zone/ACT

A lethal wicket-taker with the new ball, an outstanding death bowler and someone with really good cricket IQ, the quick from Wagga has one of the most impressive representative records in recent country cricket history.

Making his name for the St Michaels club, Suidgeest first came through for Riverina at state level before getting a chance for NSW Country, for whom he has the remarkable record of 41 wickets at the almost unbelievable average of 12.7.

This makes the right-arm bowler the eighth-highest wicket-taker for NSW Country at national carnivals and puts him at an incredibly impressive second – of all time, across all states – when it comes to bowling averages.

These performances led to a stint with the ACT Comets in the second XI competition, during which time Suidgeest also represented the ACT at the Australian Country Championships, picking up a further 10 wickets at 22.

KERROD WHITE

Greater Illawarra

He might not have played as much representative cricket as some of the others on this list, but few have made the impact of the Illawarra batsman.

A destructive hitter of the ball who can take the game away from opposition sides in the blink of an eye, White made a sensational debut for NSW Country in 2020.

With two tons and two 50s, he amassed 455 runs at an average of 50 in what is the fourth-best ever carnival by a batsman in ACCC history.

With the ability to score incredibly fast, he was signed by the Sydney Thunder in the early years of the BBL and has continued to be one of the top players at club level. In a remarkable record, it's no surprise that his Lake Illawarra side has won an incredible nine-straight titles in South Coast cricket.