IN year 5, Denman's Riley Ayre said in the school magazine he wanted to be a professional cricketer when he grew up.
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Yesterday he was fast approaching that dream at the tender age of 17 when he debuted for NSW in a Futures League match against Victoria at Junction Oval in St Kilda. The league is an under-23 national division which replaced the state second XI competition and features many players with first-class experience.
The left-arm orthodox spinner bowled only six overs for 27 runs on a rain-affected opening day of the four-day game but was still buzzing about his selection.
"It was a really good experience," Ayre said last night.
"I was pretty stoked to get selected. I wasn't really expecting it this early."
The 190-centimetre-plus tweaker rose to prominence after captaining the Central North under-17 side to second at the NSW Country championships at Raymond Terrace this time last year.
From there he made the NSW Country then NSW under-17 teams before breaking into the Australian under-19 side for a series against India, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in July in Darwin. The year 11 St Joseph's High School, Aberdeen student was selected in the side again for a three-week tour of India which finished just two weeks ago.
He followed that with his Sydney grade debut, scoring 19 runs and taking 1-46 off 16 overs for Sutherland first grade against Mosman. His skipper is former Australian opener Phil Jaques and he faced ex-Test spinner Jason Krejza.
"The last few months have been pretty crazy, it's been awesome," Ayre said.
"I got in the NSW under-18 talent camp and it's all happened from there.
"I'm pinching myself at the moment, but there's a fair way to go yet to becoming a professional cricketer.
"I'm just loving every minute of it though."
Ayre was thankful to his parents Louise and Ian for supporting his 520-kilometre round trips to Sutherland each weekend and is determined to make the most of the opportunities coming his way.
His main goal is earning a place in Australia's Under-19 World Cup campaign in Dubai next February. Beyond that is the dream of wearing the Baggy Green, which has forced Ayre, a talented five-eighth in rugby league, to make some tough decisions.
"I used to play a bit of footy but I had to make a decision," he said. "I made a fair few rep teams and the Knights under-17s [development squad] but cricket was my main goal."
