When his mates were chasing around a footy in his village in Papua New Guinea, wicket-keeper Jack Vare had eyes only for the cricket ball.
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Vare and PNG teammate Assad Vala are using a stint in the Canberra first-grade competition as vital preparation for their country's attempt to qualify for the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup.
Vare plays for Ginninderra, while Vala is back for a second season with North Canberra Gungahlin after both previously played in 2009-10.
The pair have had limited games for their clubs having helped PNG last month claim victory in the country's first two one-day internationals – the first country to achieve the feat.
PNG defeated Hong Kong in two 50-over games in Townsville in another historic step to show how far the game has progressed in recent years.
Rugby league is the national sport in PNG, with Vare growing up idolising the Cronulla Sharks and their flying winger Andrew Ettingshausen.
But never far away were the images of the Australian cricket team.
"Growing up watching players like Adam Gilchrist, we watched TV and would go back on the streets and wanted to be like them," Vare said.
"Playing in the ODI against Hong Kong was a massive occasion for me and to play for your country was an amazing moment.
"Everyone was pumped to be able to win our first two games."
The PNG side didn't have long to celebrate, turning their focus to regional qualifiers for the 2016 T20 World Cup to be held in India.
"The country was proud and were happy for us to be playing in our first ODI, so it was something special," Vare said.
"After that we moved to Lismore to qualify for our region for the T20 World Cup.
"In our region, we qualified for the next stage of qualifying so we have to finish at the top of our group in the next round to book our place."
Cricket Australia is keen to organise a match against PNG, which has risen to be 15th in the world and narrowly missed qualifying for next year's one-day World Cup.
"Our goal is to go against the big boys," Vare said.
"After the ODIs, CA chairman Wally Edwards came up and said we might be able to play against Australia.
"We're hoping to continue to improve."
SATURDAY: Douglas Cup: Ginninderra v Weston Creek Molonglo at Kippax 1. North Canberra Gungahlin v Eastlake at Harrison 2. ANU v Queanbeyan at ANU North. Wests/UC v Tuggeranong at Jamison Oval. All games start at 11am.
