Glenelg batsman Jake Winter named player of the Australian under-17 cricket championships

GLENELG batsman Jake Winter is in elite company after being named the player of the Australian under-17 cricket championships last month.

IAN Healy, Marcus North, James Pattinson - and Jake Winter.

A Glenelg opening batsman, Winter is in elite company after being named the player of the Australian under-17 cricket championships held in Adelaide last month.

Winter, 16, scored a tournament-high 389 runs at 77.8 in the carnival to help SA take out the title for the first time since 2007-08.

Healy (1979-80), North (1995-96) and Pattinson (2006-07) graduated to Test ranks after getting the player of the carnival honour.

"The coach (David Scholz) gave me the licence to play my shots, so I went out there with a bit of freedom and it paid off in the end," Winter says.

"I'm pretty rapt with how I went in the carnival ... but knowing you've helped your team win (the carnival) makes it even better.

"I'd also like to thank my coaches, my dad Roger and my family for their support throughout the carnival."

Winter, who plays mostly B grade for the Seahorses, entered the tournament in scratchy form.

The Glenelg North resident had scored four and six in his two previous club knocks, then 11 and a duck in a trial match against the Northern Territory.

"I wasn't feeling too flash, but in the first game against the Vics I felt all right and it gave me confidence."

Winter used to play backyard 'Tests' against his brother Adam, a former Seahorses junior turned state volleyballer.

"He was a bowler, so it kind of helped me.

"He'd bowl pace in the backyard and we'd make our own rules up ... but I was terrible and never used to beat him."

Wearing the baggy green is his dream but for now Winter is simply aiming to become a consistent grade performer.

Kensington paceman David Grant joined Winter in the team of the championships.