Glenelg batsman Jake Winter set for under-19 national championships

GLENELG batsman Jake Winter has runs on his mind at this week’s under-19 nationals as he aims to put a horror A-grade debut behind him.

Glenelg batsman Jake Winter has been selected for this week’s national under-19 championships. Picture Roger Wyman

GLENELG batsman Jake Winter has runs on his mind as he aims to put a horror A-grade debut behind him.

Winter, 17, is one of two SA vice-captains at this week’s national under-19 titles in Adelaide – three months after sustaining a fractured hip and torn hip flexor in his first A-grade match for the Seahorses.

The right-hander lasted just nine balls and 14 minutes on debut against Woodville in round one.

He scored six before retiring hurt and his Glenelg teammates carried him off Woodville Oval.

“I was waiting for the full ball to put away for four and I got it but as I was doing it my back foot didn’t get any grip on the pitch and slipped,” Winter says.

“I felt it just rip.

“(Glenelg veteran Cullen Bailey) was calling me through saying ‘run, run, run’, but I couldn’t run and was going nowhere.

“I was in very bad pain. It wasn’t the greatest (debut).”

Winter, of Glenelg North, made his comeback last month, playing two B-grade games.

Winter considers the under-19 titles, in which SA is seeking back-to-back crowns, an ideal platform to relaunch his Grade season.

Twelve months ago he shone on the national stage as player of the Australian under-17 carnival in which he scored a tournament-high 389 runs at 77.8.

“I’d definitely like to make runs and winning the carnival would be excellent.

“It’d be good to get a second (A-grade) game but we’ll see how we go.”