Klinger earns national selection

 

 

ASHLEY BROWNE

 

MICHAEL Klinger’s sensational debut season for South Australia has been rewarded by selection in the Australia A side for a series of matches later this month.

The 28-year-old batsman is off to Townsville for two four-day matches against Pakistan A, the first of which starts on June 26.¬†”It was exciting to be recognised by the selectors,” Klinger told The AJN after hearing the news from the national selection panel.

“It’s an extra opportunity to play at a high level and will hopefully set me up for another good season with South Australia.”

After crossing from Victoria, Klinger made 1203 runs in 19 first-class outings for South Australia last summer, at an average of 1203. His top score was a memorable 255 against Victoria.¬†While the Redbacks don’t start official pre-season training until June 15, Klinger and several teammates have been training five days a week in anticipation of selection for Australia A.¬†While Klinger missed selection for the one-day series that follows the four-day matches, he has elected to remain in Australia on standby and to join his South Australian teammates for their winter training.

This means he will not be joining the Australian cricket squad in Israel for the 18th Maccabiah, where in all likelihood, he would have captained the side.¬†Klinger played in the gold-medal winning team in 1997, a trip marred by the bridge collapse, and was looking forward to the opportunity to lead a young Australian side this time around.¬†”It’s something I still want to do and depending on what’s happening with my career, I’ll try to go again in four years,” he said.¬†”But this is an important time in my career and I need to make the most of every opportunity.”