Western Suburbs Cricket Club has a very proud history on connecting with young cricketers making their way from the country regions to the big smoke of Sydney.

Since the 1970’s Gary Gilmour, Steve Rixon, Peter Toohey and the late Phillip Hughes have journeyed from the regional townships of NSW to join Western Suburbs and ultimately go onto the wear the Baggy Green and play Test Cricket for Australia.

There have also been several players go on to represent New South Wales and James Rainey Munro Mackay may well have been the first.

James, known as Sunny Jim Mackay because of his charming disposition and happy temperament was born in Northern NSW in Armidale in September 1880.

At a very early age, he built quite the reputation as an outstanding batsman and in 1900/01 season before moving to Sydney his scores included 104*, 128*, 108*, 200* and 65* - 605 runs without losing his wicket.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/278/sunny-jim-mackay-western-suburbs-batting-genius-from-the-bush