MACKSVILLE’S Alec Baldwin is following some pretty famous footsteps: Dave Gilbert, Alan Davidson, Bob Simpson, Mitchell Starc and Michael Clarke. And of course, local legend Phillip Hughes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While 17-year-old Alec nods his head to the greats who have gone before in Sydney grade cricket for Western Suburbs - he’s making his own way.
The talented batsmen who also wheels his arm over with medium pace, made the courageous step to move to the Big Smoke in September to chase his cricket dream.
He started in thirds and before Christmas was bumped up into second grade, where he bats at No.5 and chips in with the ball.
“I’ve been pretty happy with the progress in my first season though I could have done better,” Alec told the Guardian.
“I joined Western Suburbs because it’s a nice central club (playing out of Pratten Park) and they pay my accommodation costs.”
With a season high score of “70-something” against Blacktown, Alec was quick to notice the chasm between cricket in the country and Sydney grade.
“The standards are a lot higher and everything is more professional. Cricket as you know is a social game, but the competition is tough - it’s very tough,” Alec said.
To help pay the bills Alec has picked up work as a groundsman, “though playing cricket is my focus”.
To that end he’s now looking forward to a visit back home to Macksville this weekend, and eyeing a season in England next year.
While playing seniors for Western Suburbs has been a mountain to climb, Alec has long been recognised as a rising star as a junior - cementing himself in the Wests U21s, while he has also just been named - along with five other Nambucca Valley products - in the U19s North Coastal Zone squad.
It’s literally all before the young man - but he’s determined to make his own way there wherever that may be.
