Astute East Cessnock Comets lawn bowler Michael Cronin departs for Cairns on Monday destined for camp with the 2010 Australian National Bowls Squad in what is a key selection event for this year’s Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Delhi, India.

Cronin will take part in a crucial tie between Australia and Australia ‘A’ as the 12 best male bowlers in the country look to impress selectors for one of only six seats aboard the plane to the thriving Indian metropolis.

The camp will also represent a chance for Cronin to catch up with pairs partner and current Australian number one ranked bowler Leif Selby, who in November last year toured alongside Cronin to Hong Kong as the duo took part in the singles and pairs at the Hong Kong International.

Selected by Bowls Australia to attend the event, Cronin said the two-week trip afforded him the opportunity to converse with many of the world’s best bowlers who had made the journey to the Chinese province from nations such as England, Scotland, Wales, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Macau and New Zealand.

“All the players were put up in the same hotel so we got to eat meals and share drinks together,” Cronin said.

Cronin performed admirably at the competition, making it through to the last 16 in the singles and winning 11 straight games in the pairs before he and Selby lost to eventual champions New Zealand in the quarter finals. Selby won the singles.

Nevertheless, the experience proved vital as Cronin continues in pursuit of the opportunity to walk out in front of 60,000 people at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex when the Commonwealth Games’ opening ceremony takes place on October 3.

“Last year I think I went to every state in Australia,” Cronin said. “I’ve been to Malaysia for bowls before, too.”

While Cronin will be aiming for a strong showing in Cairns, he’ll have a further opportunity to sway the selection panel next month when he ventures south for the Australian Open to be fought out in Shepparton, Victoria between February 14 and 20.

The Australian Open is the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest and most lucrative bowls event and depending on his results Cronin may then have the opportunity to represent Australia at the World Champions of Champions to be held on Norfolk Island in November this year.

Should Cronin make the eventual cut for the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi, he’ll compete in the Indian capital between October 4 and 13.