Over the Pickets: Redbacks all-rounder Cam Valente smashes back-to-back grade cricket tons
Cam Valente has just spent more than eight hours at the crease unbeaten and now he is eyeing a Big Bash debut for the Strikers under the guidance of a fellow Adelaide Buffalos product.
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Cam Valente is dealing with disappointment in a positive fashion.
Dropped from SA’s Sheffield Shield side last month, the all-rounder responded in the best possible fashion hitting back-to-back unbeaten tons for Adelaide in grade cricket.
The mammoth 523 minutes at the crease without losing his wicket featured 156 not out against West Torrens and an undefeated 125 against Prospect, where he also took 4/29.
Valente, 24, says bouncing back with the gruelling, more than eight-hour stretch comes down to a change between the ears.
“This year I said I would give it my all to try and get something out of it whenever I came back (to grade cricket),” Valente, who captained the Buffalos for the first time against West Torrens, says.
“When you’re in the state set up its easy to come back and take it easy and think it’s going to be easy.
“But it’s a tough competition with some good bowlers.”
Valente ticked off one of his goals for the season by earning a return to the Shield side in October, playing three matches before being squeezed out by returning skipper Travis Head. One of SA’s best with the white ball, Valente feels he is capable at that level despite the runs not coming in the longer format. His top score from 15 Shield innings is 43.
“It’s been difficult, going up and down,” he says.
“My goal was to break into the Shield team as an all-rounder, and it was great to do that.
“Obviously the runs weren’t there though, and I didn’t make enough to hold my spot. It doesn’t help when you know Trav Head is going to come back at some point.
“I feel like I do have it in me. That’s both the exciting and disappointing thing about it.”
With Shield taking a break until February after the fixture on the weekend, Valente’s focus now turns to his next goal – a Big Bash debut.
The right-armer was on the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat lists the past two summers but was unable to crack either side’s XI.
Signed by the Adelaide Strikers last month, he will link up with a another export of Adelaide in coach Jason Gillespie. But Valente is not expecting any special treatment from his fellow Buffalo.
“Everyone thinks I must know him really well with the Adelaide connection but I think I’ve only spoken to him a couple of times,” he says.
“I guess there’s a little hidden connection in some way. My focus is to just keep trying to knock the door down and earn my spot.”
patrick.keam@news.com.au