Michael_Klinger

Michael Klinger

Michael Klinger

Australian cricketer

For the film producer, see Michael Klinger (producer). For the painter, see Max Hermann Maxy.

Michael Klinger (born 4 July 1980) is an Australian former first-class cricketer, who held the record for the most runs scored in the Big Bash League when he retired in 2019.[1]

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Until the 2008–09 season, Klinger played for Victoria and for St Kilda Cricket Club in Premier Cricket. He joined the South Australia Redbacks for the 2008–09 season, was named their Captain in 2010, and was recognised as the State Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. He was one of the 350 players under the hammer for the IPL Auction 2011, and was bought by Kochi Tuskers Kerala. In 2014 he was recruited by the Perth Scorchers and then also played for Western Australia. In March 2018, he announced his retirement from first-class cricket.[2]

Personal life

Klinger was born in Kew, Victoria, Australia, and is Jewish.[3][4][5][6] He completed an undergraduate applied science degree in Human Movement, and a Master of Business (Sport Management) degree at Deakin University.[7][8]

Career

Michael Klinger batting in the nets in February 2010

As a young batsman, Klinger was named Captain of the Australia Under 19's Men's Cricket team – his deputy being Michael Clarke who subsequently became captain of the national team.[9]

Klinger began as an 18-year-old in the 1998–99 season. His career lowlight was the 2000–01 season when he made a famous 99 not out, with captain Paul Reiffel declaring the innings closed, a move which brought great controversy[10] and remains the only batsman in Australian cricket to be stranded on 99 due to a declaration.[11] This caused Klinger some great upset, and following it Klinger had several less successful years, but returned to contention for a spot in the Victorian Bushrangers side for the 2005–06 season. He quickly made his first first-class century, and then followed it up with his first List A one-day century, but his first-class form soon dropped, and he was replaced in the side by Lloyd Mash, not to return in the Pura Cup all season. In 2003 he was the club professional for Walkden in the Bolton Cricket League.

In Season 2006–07 he started off in the outer from the Pura Cup side, but started off his Ford Ranger Cup season in style, nearly getting a century early on, and then following it up with one. He led the runs scoring in the competition for much of the season, eventually finishing 3rd. Klinger's rise to the Pura Cup team came only when Brad Hodge was called up by Australia for their ODI Series, and Klinger's recent form had been wavy, with his last game for the 2nd XI yielding a first innings duck, but second innings century. Klinger was soon to do the same for the 1st XI, but the century ensured that when Hodge returned, Klinger survived. He finished the season as a regular fixture of the Bushrangers side, and was part of a great partnership with David Hussey in a match against NSW, in which the Vics defied all odds to chase down a massive total of 360 on an extremely poor 4th day pitch (it was later described as a 3rd day pitch on day 1 by Hussey), scoring 102.

Move to South Australia

Klinger joined the South Australia Redbacks for the 2008–09 season in order to get more opportunities at state level, where he began batting at number 3 rather than opening, and saw immediate success, scoring a maiden 150 not out against old state Victoria in his first game.[12] Then, against Western Australia on 11 November, Klinger scored his maiden double century, finishing on 255,[13] and he continued to score heavily in both the Sheffield Shield and the Ford Ranger Cup, and hit his third century for the season against Queensland at the Gabba,[14] and his first away from the traditionally batting friendly Adelaide Oval.

On 11 December 2008, Klinger posted his highest individual score in one day cricket, with an unbeaten 133 off just 128 balls. This guided South Australia to victory in their high-scoring match against the Tasmania Tigers at the Adelaide Oval. This was Klinger's fourth one-day century.[15] He won the Australian Cricketers' Association's December 2008 Johnnie Walker player-of-the-month award.[16]

In 2010, Klinger was named Captain of the Redbacks.[17]

In November 2019, he was appointed as the head coach of Melbourne Renegades, an Australian franchise professional men's Twenty20 cricket team. He replaced former all-rounder Andrew McDonald who resigned for becoming Australia's assistant coach.[18]

Indian Premier League

Klinger was one of the 350 players under the hammer for the IPL Auction 2011, and was bought by Kochi Tuskers Kerala for US$ 75,000.[19]

Gloucestershire

In December 2012, Klinger was signed by Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, not only as their overseas player for the 2013 season, but also as their captain, taking over from Alex Gidman. He had previously stood in for Phillip Hughes at Worcestershire at the beginning of the previous season.[20] He scored over 1000 runs in the County Championship, scoring 6 centuries, plus another 1000 runs in the limited over competitions. Due to his success, Klinger returned to captain Gloucs again for the 2014 season.[21] He was their leading run scorer in the One Day Cup, until he broke his arm playing against Derbyshire in August.[22] In August 2015, he was confirmed as staying with the club for the 2016 season.[23]

Western Australia

Klinger signed a two-year contract with Western Australia in April 2014.[24] He recovered from the broken arm to make his debut for WA in the 2014–15 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup in October.[25] Klinger scored 71 runs (not out) for the Perth Scorchers as they beat the Sydney Sixers to win the Big Bash League | 06 in January 2017.

International career

Klinger competed for Australia at the 1997 Maccabiah Games in Israel when he was 17 years old, winning a gold medal.[3][26]

In February 2017, Klinger was named in Australia's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against Sri Lanka.[27] He made his T20I debut for Australia against Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 17 February 2017.[28] At the age of 36, Klinger became the oldest player for Australia to debut in a T20I.[29]

Despite having the 20th highest List A batting average of all time (49.33) and the second highest by an Australian, Klinger never played a One Day International.

Awards

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Chadwick, Justin (3 February 2019). "Stars fall short against lowly Scorchers". Mandurah Mail. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Michael Klinger to retire from first-class cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  3. [3]
    Mendel, Jack. "Aussie cricketer Michael Klinger talks to Jewish News ahead of The Ashes". www.jewishnews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Michael Klinger". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. [5]
    Staff, J.-Wire (31 October 2016). "Klinger named Jewish Sportsman of the Year in WA". J-Wire. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. [6]
    "How the 'Jewish Bradman' realised his 20-year wait for the baggy green". www.jewishnews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Beyond the boundary". Deakin Business School. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Star cricketer and Deakin student Michael Klinger shares his amazing story". Deakin Life. Deakin University. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  9. [9]
    Berry, Darren (7 December 2008). "Ashes tour on the cards for Klinger". The Age. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  10. [10]
    Polack, John (3 March 2001). "Tigers prolong Klinger's agony on gloomy day for Victoria". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  11. [11]
    Miller, p. 95.
  12. [12]
    "Sheffield Shield at Adelaide, Oct 14-17 2008". ESPNcricinfo. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  13. [13]
    "Sheffield Shield at Adelaide, Nov 10-13 2008". ESPNcricinfo. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  14. [14]
    "Sheffield Shield at Brisbane, Nov 28 - Dec 1 2008". ESPNcricinfo. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  15. [15]
    "Klinger's 133 races Redbacks to high-scoring success". ESPNcricinfo. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  16. [16]
    Hogan, Jesse (14 January 2009). "Prolific Klinger named the best". The Age. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  17. [17]
    "Klinger appointed Redbacks' captain". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  18. [18]
    "Melbourne Renegades appoints Michael Klinger as head coach". aninews.in. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  19. [19]
    Masters, James (13 January 2011). "Michael Klinger ready to cash in on IPL". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  20. [20]
    "Gloucestershire sign Michael Klinger as captain for 2013". BBC Sport. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  21. [21]
    "Gloucestershire captain excited about new season". BBC Sport. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  22. [22]
    "Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger suffers broken arm". 22 August 2014.
  23. [23]
    "Michael Klinger turns down First Division offers to stay at Gloucestershire". Gloucestershire Echo. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  24. [24]
    Elborough, Brad (12 April 2014). "WA signs Michael Klinger".
  25. [25]
    "New recruit Michael Klinger ready to fire for WA in Matador One-Day Cup". 1 October 2014.
  26. [26]
    "How the 'Jewish Bradman' realised his 20-year wait for the baggy green".
  27. [27]
    "Klinger, Paine in Australia's T20 squad". ESPNcricinfo. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  28. [28]
    "Sri Lanka tour of Australia, 1st T20I: Australia v Sri Lanka at Melbourne, Feb 17, 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  29. [29]
    "Malinga set for return against new-look Australia". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 February 2017.

Sources

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