Klinger’s shock move west
PROLIFIC domestic batsman Michael Klinger has spoken of his disappointment after the shock decision by the South Australia Cricket Association (SACA) to drop him from its four-day side.
PROLIFIC domestic batsman Michael Klinger has spoken of his disappointment after the shock decision by the South Australia Cricket Association (SACA) to drop him from its four-day side.
Despite scoring a mountain of runs in all forms of the game in the past seven years with the Redbacks, and cementing himself as one of the top batsmen in the country, Klinger was told he no longer had a spot in the club’s Sheffield Shield XI, a decision which led the 33-year-old to accept a two-year deal from Western Australia, where he has been guaranteed a first-class berth.
Klinger, who has smashed more than 4000 first class runs for South Australia since crossing over from Victoria in 2008, said the lack of confidence shown in him by SACA had taken him by surprise.
“Two Shield games ago I scored a double-ton for South Australia,” Klinger, who is in England for the County Cricket season, told The Advertiser.
“I still have ambitions to play one-day cricket for Australia in the 2015 World Cup, but if you are not playing Shield cricket, you are out of people’s minds.”
Western Australia has offered the two-time State Player of the Year a two-year deal, allowing the Warriors to fill the vacant spot left by departing former Test player Marcus North.
Klinger still had one year left on his contract with SACA, but the longer-term offer from the west was enough to make up his mind.
“The two years over one from WA helped, but I only had a guaranteed opportunity to play first-class cricket in one place,” Klinger said.
“The hardest thing is leaving my teammates. SA will have success soon and to not be part of that hurts a lot.”
Klinger enjoyed a remarkable stint with SACA, which yielded its first domestic competition title in 16 years and honoured him with its top award – the Neil Dansie Medal – three times in five seasons.
Most recently, he was named in the ACA One-Day Interstate All-Star Team of the Year after, averaging 76 in the Ryobi One Day Cup.
“It’s sad to leave my teammates in South Australia, many of whom I have forged lifelong friendships with, but I am excited for what the future holds in WA,” Klinger said.
“I am looking forward to working with [coach Justin Langer] and the coaching staff as well as joining the senior players in helping to guide this very exciting young group of talented cricketers to achieve success.”
Klinger is currently in England with county side Gloucestershire, where he recently hit 82 runs in the side’s eight-wicket loss to Hampshire.
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