Michaela Meade
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Rising cricket star and Craigieburn local Jordan Buckingham will take his skills to South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) as a rookie.
The young player, who competed at Craigieburn and Greenvale, said he was “over the moon” to score the signing.
“To be signed with a large state cricket organisation such as the SACA is the epitome,” he said.
“It has always been a dream of mine and for that dream to become a reality is something that I can be proud of for a long time.”
Buckingham said he found out about the news through his manager Glen Turner.
“[Turner] was doing a lot of work behind the scenes, when he gave me the call to let me know it was official I was over the moon with excitement and even a few tears of joy.
“[SACA] came and watched a few games later in the season, which I was unaware of, and must have been impressed.
“It was pretty much all systems go from there.”
Buckingham performed well in the 2020-21 Victorian Premier Cricket season, bowling for Footscray Cricket Club.
He took 21 wickets, with an average of 25.38.
Buckingham said the club was imperative for his development, which will be furthered with SACA.
“Footscray has been brilliant for my development over the last four seasons and I certainly wouldn’t have got to this stage without their assistance,” Buckingham said.
“At presentation night, [my signing] was mentioned and every person in the room passed on their well wishes.
“It’s just that sort of a second family environment at Footscray.”
Buckingham said his love for cricket started at a very young age.
“I first started playing cricket at the age of five or six, all the way through the junior cricket ranks at Craigieburn, including a premiership in under-12s,” he said.
“From there I made the move to the Greenvale Kangaroos in under -6s where I was fortunate enough to have played in three premierships in the one year – under-16s, 18s, [and] seniors.
“I was able to play two seasons of premier cricket there in which I made my first XI debut at age 16, followed by a move to Footscray where I played a further 40 or so first XI matches including a final up until this season just gone.”
Buckingham said he is focusing on the here and now in terms of his development with SACA.
“I don’t really have any hopes as of yet for my time at the SACA, it is more just sinking in at the moment,” he said.
“I would love to be a one state player for as many years as possible, with that comes a lot of hard work and sometimes a bit of luck and I’m well aware of that and more than happy to put the hours in to get the best out of myself and prolong it as long as possible.
“I think I will be able to give myself every chance to learn and develop in a professional environment with some quality people involved such as Jason Gillespie the head coach.”
Buckingham will make the official move to South Australia in mid-June, officially starting on Saturday, July 5.
