Joseph Price arrived home to a welcome surprise.
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A hand-made “congrats” sign adorned his Adamstown hallway accompanied by green and gold balloons.
It was Monday and the 35-year-old was still riding the high from an incredible Australian Country Championships campaign in Geraldton.
A carnival won by a resurgent NSW Country after the final game, followed by the Wests all-rounder receiving prized individual honours – awarded player of the tournament and selected in the national merit XII.
“Could not have written it better,” he said.
Price admitted thinking the Bush Blues were “dead and buried” after following up an undefeated T20 run with three straight one-day losses.
“We’d gone from penthouse to outhouse,” he said.
But the NSW Country squad “crunched the numbers” on Thursday night and knew clinching the title for the first time since 2012-2013 was possible, albeit unlikely, with double-bonus-point victories in the last two matches coupled with favourable results.
Last year’s runner’s up chased down 214 inside 25 overs against hosts Western Australia on Friday before skittling South Australia for 95 on Saturday.
Then it was a matter of East Asia Pacific being upset by WA, leaders Victoria getting knocked over by reigning premiers Queensland and hoping, post last round, net run rate fell their way to complete a remarkable jump from fourth to first.
Everything lined up perfectly.
“We went back to the hotel together after our last game and we just waited, eyes glued to the [MyCricket] live app,” Price said.
“I think it was the first time 15 or 16 blokes from NSW were barracking for Queensland. But to win the tournament like that was quite an unbelievable achievement really.”
Price said he felt satisfied to contribute at crucial times, taking 18 wickets and scoring 277 runs across 11 outings.
As for being named in the Australian Country team and earning a coveted green cap.
“That’s pretty special,” he said. “I don’t want to let it out of my sights. It’ll end up on the mantlepiece for sure.”
