Tigers’ all-rounder coup
South African signing’s credentials are first-class
SOUTHPORT Labrador player-coach Simon Belston expects recruit Michael Alexander to be one of the Kookaburra Cup’s most dominant figures next season as the Tigers fight to end a decade of premiership pain.
Without a first grade flag since 2008-09, last season’s semi-finalists have pulled off a massive coup with the signing of the former South African first-class player on Thursday. GOLD Coast great Shannon Eckstein has revealed his next racing move, with the six-time world ironman champion set to tackle an ocean ski event today.
After dominating the sport for 17 years, Eckstein retired at the end of the 2019 Australian surf lifesaving championships but will make his racing
The 28-year-old, a toporder batsman and handy medium-pacer, played 17 firstclass games for KwaZuluNatal between 2009-13.
His career was highlighted by a top score of 164.
Alexander linked up with Belston for the first time at Bury Cricket Club in England in 2010, with their friendship now helping deliver him to the Tigers.
“He’s a class cricketer. It return at the Gold Coast Classic Ocean Race.
“It’s been four months since the Aussies and I spent two of them doing absolutely nothing but then I got to a point where I wanted to get a bit more active,” he said.
“I’m working fulltime now but it’s been good to get out on the water early in the morning.
“This is the first big race of the ocean ski will be a huge benefit for Southport,” Belston said of Alexander, who top-scored for Durban Premier League T20 and one-day champions Clares last season.
“He will bring a wealth of experience, not just to Southport Labrador, but to Cricket Gold Coast. He will be great for the club and great for the juniors as well.
“I brought Michael over (to Bury) from South Africa to racing season with races in Hong Kong and Perth to come so I’ll be trying to get to them later in the year.”
Even four months on from his surf lifesaving retirement, Eckstein said his competitiveness is yet represent us as our professional player for the UK summer (in 2010) and the opportunity has now come about to bring Michael to the Gold Coast.
“It’s a great signing for the club, for sure. He’s a genuine all-rounder – he bowls a little bit of medium pace – and he’s played first-class cricket in South Africa.
“I would expect his performances to be up there with to wane after he joined a paddling group a few weeks ago.
“Once you start the session, you always want to be up the front and to compete so you don’t lose competitiveness,” he said.
Eckstein will today come up against a starstudded field, including Olympic gold medallist Ken Wallace and Cory Hill, but the great doesn’t expect to produce the sort of form that saw him win nine Nutri-Grain series.
“It’s a world-class field,” the 36-year-old Eckstein said.
“Hopefully by November, I’m up the pointy end of the field but I probably haven’t done enough training to be up there this weekend.”
The race starts at Tallebudgera SLSC at 1pm. some of the best on the Gold Coast next season.”
Alexander’s arrival is likely to ease the run-scoring burden on top-order pair Matthew Morris and Nic Peterson, who has assumed the captaincy from Belston for 2019-20.
Don Gumm was also returned as president at the club’s annual meeting late last month.
The Tigers launched preseason training last Saturday.
MICHAEL ALEXANDER
Age: 28
Position:
All-rounder – right-hand bat, right-arm medium-fast bowler First-class record: Debut ... KwaZulu-Natal, 2009 Matches ................................ 17 Batting average: .................. 22