Alec Smith has terrorised many of a bowling attack in and around Launceston.
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But his move this season to Hobart may not end it there.
The 21-year-old is padding up for Clarence in a grudge match with Greater Northern Raiders in an all too familiar return to his roots.
“I’ve played against them a fair bit, all their individual players,” Smith said.
“So it should be a bit fun.”
The ex-South Launceston strokemaker made quite a name for himself last season.
Smith easily topped Cricket North’s batting records, scoring 853 runs at 71.42 – a whopping 313 runs extra and an average of more than 30 better than Dane Anderson.
But instead of joining the long-heralded wait for the North of the state, Smith packed up and headed south.
He insists there’s nothing sinister about the move.
“It was always in the back of my mind to play in Hobart and I knew a fair few of the Clarence boys,” Smith said
“I just thought I’d play for them for that reason alone.”
In the absence of facing Knights quick James Beattie, Smith is to cross paths only with ex-teammate Jono Marsden on Raiders debut.
But Smith is unsure whether there will be banter when he steps out to the crease.
“Maybe, I don’t know?” Smith laughs, “there might be, but if there is, so be it.”
But rather act as informant on his rivals, Smith’s role is to lead the way on uncharted territory and build on a first-game 29 for the Roos after uni exams, then rain halted his time in the middle.
“It’s been more about conditions and what the NTCA wicket is like,” he said, “for how our bowlers approach it and how batters should bat on that wicket.”