Rising to the challenge

For the last two seasons they have nurtured the talent of Alex De Kroon, a 17-year-old bowler who suffers from autism.

Alex’s condition could have a detrimental effect on his performance as he finds it hard to concentrate for long periods of time and wants to be involved in the game constantly.

However, with help from his teacher David Deselms, senior coach Greg O’Toole, under-17s coach Russell Pereira, his wife and club President Vanessa, along with all the other volunteers, players and members, Alex’s integration has been a successful one.

Vanessa Pereira praised Alex’s spirit to conquer adversity and to his teacher for having the drive to get him involved.

“It is probably one of the proudest things the club has achieved,” she said.

“We provided community support after the bush fires and also the floods, but this has been extraordinary, especially seeing the kids rallying around Alex. Guys have gone that extra mile to help him out, they’ve stayed late at training to work on his bowling, fielding or batting.

“Everybody has worked hard, but the real hero is David.

“He has gone far beyond what a teacher should do. Without speaking out of term, Alex’s parents are no longer on this earth, so the club’s had to set up a whole extra support network which needs to be there all the time.

“We’ve had other parents who have been happy to put him in their car and drive him around. But I have to say it’s been really easy with all the help we’ve received and the way the club has come together.”

Twelve months ago David, who works at Western Autistic School, persuaded Alex to get back into cricket.

Although there have been some tough times since then, he has been pleased with his progress both on and off the field.

“Alex played before but lost interest with everything that happened,” he said.

“Over the last two years he has lost both his parents, things were pretty messy for him and he became closed off. I noticed his interest in cricket had come back about a year ago, it took a lot of arm twisting by me to get him to keep going.

“But we talked and I persisted. Eventually we found Caroline Springs. I have to say they have been absolutely amazing.

“I remember the first time he was getting ready to bat. He was shaking he was so nervous, but then he went in and hit the first ball for four, you could see his shoulders go back as he got more confident.

“Cricket is a great place to meet people, it’s a lot better for him than staying inside and playing computer games.”

As for the other children, Vanessa couldn’t be happier with the role they have played in Alex’s story too.

“They were absolutely brilliant when he first started and took him under their wing,” she continued.

“Some players gave him some boots when they had finished with them, when he first came he didn’t have a kit bag but someone else gave him one, it was to make Alex feel he was part of the club.

“With Alex’s condition he gets impatient when he’s not bowling or batting and is constantly in the ear of the captain.

“He’s come to understand that, especially in the higher grades, you can’t do that. He’s working on things and he actually went to speak to Premier Cricketer Matthew Vine who plays for Melbourne University about what he should do on a cricket field. For him to do that was a massive step.”

The next path on this heart-warming cricket story for Alex will be a trial with the Victorian Vikings in February.

His friends and coaches hope it will be just the start of a successful career on the pitch.