Returning to the field after a few weeks off nursing a broken finger, Nick Larkin has made an immediate impact. On Saturday, he passed 5000 First Grade runs during his 51 against Western Suburbs and on Monday he followed up with a massive 189 in his first Futures League innings of the season.
Larkin has been dominant in the Futures League in recent years: last season, he hit two double-centuries and averaged over 100. He opened his 2017-18 campaign in a new team, ACT/NSW Country, against NSW Metropolitan, and hit a commanding 189 from 275 deliveries. Although the NSW Metropolitan attack contained four bowlers with first-class experience (Charlie Stobo, Liam Hatcher, Nic Bills and Arjun Nair), Larkin hit 26 fours and a six and shared a third-wicketpartnership of 188 with Jay Lenton. It was a timely reminder of his ability as the NSW selectors prepare to select the first Sheffield Shield team of the season.
At stumps, ACT/NSW Country had reached four for 312. Larkin's Sydney University team-mate, Damien Mortimer, spent the first day of his Futures League debut chasing leather, but should get his chance with the bat for NSW Metropolitan on Tuesday.