The young man who guided South Launceston to this season’s Cricket North flag says he is in no rush to head South just yet.
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Knights captain Alec Smith, who hit the runs to confirm an eight-wicket win over Westbury at the NTCA Ground on Sunday, has been linked with a move to the state’s cricket headquarters in Hobart.
But Smith, who has just turned 20, is not itching to leave a club he has played for since under-12s.
“I’m not really sure yet, just see how it plays out,” he said of the potential move.
“I just want to enjoy my cricket, whether that’s up here or down in Hobart so be it. I’m not overly fussed.
“If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’m just trying to enjoy my cricket and if I progress, I progress.”
The stylish right-hander had a hugely impressive first-grade season, scoring 555 runs at an average of 42.7 and a highest score of 119 not out in the preliminary final defeat of Riverside.
His 16 innings in 14 matches included three not outs.
He also bowled a handy 134.3 overs, claiming 19 wickets at an impressive average of just 19.8 and best figures of 4-27 against Launceston.
In 114 matches across all grades for the Knights, Smith has scored 2918 runs at 39.43. After 38 in the first innings of the grand final, his 16 not out completed the victory with a typically classy cover drive boundary.
Launceston-born Smith, who went to school at Scotch Oakburn and is now studying finance at UTas, said the match would live long in his memory.
“It was intense. We were very keen and just ecstatic to get the win. It came right down to the last day and you couldn’t have asked for anything else.”
The skipper said the decisive moments came on day one when a tight bowling display was able to limit the ladder-topping Shamrocks to just 109.
“I think the second hour before lunch when we took four quick wickets was a big turning point and then when Josh Freestone got two wickets in consecutive balls as well just after lunch – that’s when we first got the advantage and we just kept on with it.”
Freestone finished with six wickets to claim the Ricky Ponting Medal but Smith said South’s rollercoaster season had been a team affair.
“We were inconsistent to start the season but came right at the right time and our last three rounds were awesome. We just played well when we needed to.
“I can’t pin it down to one person, there’s been games where Jeremy Jackson’s put his hand up or Jared Dakin but really it was just a good team effort.”