Carey, Plant thrive in ACA Premier Cricket Program

3 March, 2016
The ACA Premier Cricket Program is receiving terrific feedback from around the country in its first year, both on and off the field.

Alex and Tom open the batting together for Glenelg District Cricket Club and recently produced a club record opening stand of 281 against Adelaide CC. A week later they both had strong performances in the One Day Cup Final played on the Adelaide Oval against the more fancied Tea Tree Gully CC. Alex received the Rob Zadow Medal as player of the final for his 83 runs, 2 catches with the gloves and skippering the side to victory.

While Tom (31) is content with playing Premier Cricket these days, the drive to again play first-class cricket has never been lost for Alex (24). As the Premier Cricket leading run scorer in South Australia this year with 966 (to date) including recent scores of 116, 151 & 195, Alex mounted a case too hard for the South Australian Redbacks to ignore.

Having played three first-class games for South Australia in 2013 as a top order Batsmen we spoke with Alex about getting his second opportunity three years later and the ACA Premier Cricket Program.

“I learnt a lot from those first few games three years ago, I worked out what I do best which is to go out there and be positive and play my shots.”

Commenting about playing as the wicket keeper this time around Alex said.

“I’ve always been a wicket keeper so it’s nice to get an opportunity to wicket keep and bat, it’s like an all-rounder, I have two parts of my game where I can perform.”

Alex’s role at Glenelg DCC has seen him take the philosophy of helping others while still making sure he looked after his own game. “It’s been good having young guys around the club that I want to help, and then they are happy to help me do my drills.”

Discussing the premier competition Alex said that he feels “the competition has got a bit stronger this year and the clubs with a few former state players are the ones that are having some good success.”

Glenelg District Cricket Club Secretary Alan Scholz couldn't be more supportive of the program.

“We believe the extra responsibility of taking on the ACA program and the tasks they have been contracted to, has helped them perform to a very high standard," he said.

Glenelg DCC also has Johan Botha at the club. Speaking of Tom and Johan, Alex said “If you can keep those type of guys around grade (premier) cricket as long as possible then it’s fantastic. With keeping Tommy around for another year, I guess there’s a bit more incentive there now with the ACA Premier Cricket Program to do that and it’s only going to strengthen the competition.”

After a tidy contribution in his first game back against NSW, Alex will head to Perth with the Redbacks to take on Western Australia in the shield match starting Friday 5th March.

© Australian Cricket Players Limited
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
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