Adelaide Buffalos all-rounder Cameron Valente on verge of Redbacks dream

CAMERON Valente could be the Redbacks next all-rounder, but he might have been a mediocre footballer, rather than a cricketer, if not for the death of his mother in 1999.

6/11/14 - Adelaide Buffalos cricketer Cameron Valente, 20, is tipped to be the Redbacks' next all-rounder - - pic Mike BURTON

ADELAIDE Buffalo Cameron Valente is in the mix to become the next Redbacks all-rounder.

But Valente, 20, reckons he might have become a mediocre footballer, rather than a cricketer, if not for the death of his mother Louise in 1999.

It led him to spend countless hours at cricket trainings and games, watching his dad Peter.

“I hold (mum) responsible for my cricket career,” Valente says.

“If she didn’t pass away I don’t think I’d be where I am today.

“I think I’d probably have been a footy player and probably an average footy player at best.

“At the age of four, I was hitting balls, catching balls and bowling balls against grown men.

“Cricket was a really good time because it was where I saw my dad happy and my family happy, and there wasn't much sadness going on.”

Valente, of Camden Park, is enjoying an eye-catching start to the season.

He was Adelaide’s matchwinner in his first Grade game of the season, scoring 96 and 49 not out, and snaring 6/33 and 2/37 from a combined 28.3 overs.

His Premier League campaign for Western Grit comprised 260 runs at 52 and 17 wickets at 20.71.

The form secured Valente, who does not hold a first-class contract, a spot in the Redbacks’ 12-man squad to play New South Wales at Adelaide Oval at the weekend.

“I’ve been told a few more performances and I’m not too far off.

“It’s been amazing training with blokes I was watching as a young fella.”

Valente, a middle-order batsman and seamer, attributes his success to a winter spent playing cricket in Southampton and the advice of his dad.

These days Peter Valente, 44, is a “really slow bowler who hits the spot” for Flinders University in A2 Adelaide Turf.

“He’s my main mentor.

“He’s tactically told me what I should be doing and would be spraying me if I bowled crap.”

Valente junior says it has always been a dream to play first-class cricket.

“It’d just make all my family so proud.”