Cricket world rallies around Klinger

"That battle has brought us a perspective on life that we never expected.

Leading into the festive season, give your loved ones a big hug and a kiss.”

Perth Scorchers veteran Michael Klinger has a reputation as one of the gutsiest, hardest-working players in the game, highly regarded by his peers for his leadership and persistence both on and off the field.

Earlier this year, that dedication paid off in the form of a long-awaited international T20 debut.

Now, Klinger is mustering his courage for his biggest battle to date after his beloved wife Cindy's shock breast cancer diagnosis last week.

With his immediate playing future in the game up in the air, Klinger has penned a devastating letter delivering the news of his wife’s battle with cancer.

The 37-year-old expressed how he and his wife Cindy’s worlds were rocked when they learnt suddenly of the news.

"Last week, my wife Cindy had a routine scan on her back, which had been causing her pain and no physiotherapy or anti-inflammatory tablets seemed to help,” Klinger shared in the letter, which the Scorchers have published in full on their website.

"The result of that scan completely shocked and devastated us.

"Doctors identified three spots on her vertebrae that required further investigation – within hours, we were told she had cancer."

The Klingers learnt from the biopsy taken of the lesion that the breast cancer has spread to at least those three spots identified on her spine.

A devoted father to three young children, Klinger described the moment he had to tell his kids of the terrible news as one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do. 

"We had to tell Bailey (7) and Summer (5) of the fight their mother now faces, which is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone," Klinger wrote.

"In fact, along with delivering a eulogy at my mother’s funeral, it was the hardest and most terrible thing I’ve had to do in my life."

The Scorchers head to Sydney tomorrow for their season opener on Saturday against the Sixers, but the evergreen batsman's involvement in their KFC BBL title defence remains to be seen.

"I have never considered myself to be the most skilled or flashy batsman going around, but every time I step on the field, I do so with a winning and competitive attitude – I’m a fighter,” Klinger penned.

"For the 14 years since I met Cindy, she has been my number one supporter, my confidant, my motivator, my carer. My everything.

"But our roles reversed from the moment we found out Cindy had cancer.

"Cindy must now take the mantle as the ‘fighter’ and bring a positive and winning attitude to every treatment and hurdle she runs into along the way.

"I, on the other hand, need to become chief carer, supporter and motivator.

"Playing cricket, right at this moment, is secondary."

In the four years Klinger has spent in the WA setup since his move from Adelaide, fans around the state have adopted him as their own.

His long-awaited T20 international call up in February touched people around the country, for the reward it represented after 18 years of uncompromising efforts in domestic cricket.

His family stood on the sidelines of the MCG when he finally strode out to bat for his country for the first time in that match against Sri Lanka in February.

Image Id: C176C6A224B84310B7628744E30408A9 Image Caption: Klinger made his T20 debut alongside Ashton Turner and Billy Stanlake in February // Getty

Now, Klinger is standing by his family, with his sole focus understandably re-directed to being a pillar of strength for his biggest supporters.

"I know a lot of people think very highly of their own loved ones and I’m no different – to me, Cindy is the most beautiful person, inside and out," Klinger wrote.

"She is the most considerate and selfless person I know, who is willing to help anyone with anything they need at the drop of a hat.

"By my choice, if playing clashes with any appointments or treatments, or if Cindy or the kids need me, I will be by their side."

When news broke of his wife's illness on Wednesday, current and former players around Australia were quick to rally around their mate.

WA and Scorchers coach Justin Langer said the club would do anything it could to support the Klinger family.

 "They're doing it really hard as you can imagine, it's been a great shock," Langer, who lost his mother Joy-Anne to ovarian cancer in August, said in Perth on Wednesday.

"They're a very close family ... they'll be resiliant and stick together, but they're struggling and it's hard work.

"It's a simple message (from us) to Michael at the moment: family is the absolute number one priority. There are zero expectations from our point of view. 

"Every decision he makes about whether or not to play, when he plays, he's earned the right to play when he thinks he's ready, whether that be in Sydney or Boxing Day or later in the tournament.

"We've got a very resiliant, close-knit group so we're obviously feeling for Maxy. We'll keep getting the job done and I'm sure that it will help Maxy, Cindy and the family if he knows he's under no  pressure and we've doing the job (on the field), that's what our role in this is."

The man known more commonly as ‘Maxy’ thanked his teammates, the WACA and the Perth Scorchers for their support.

"I just want them – from the staff to the players – to know that I’m not letting them down and I’m just doing what I need to do for my wife and children during this totally unexpected and very difficult time,” Klinger shared.

"Cindy will fight and we, as a family, will be right there with her throughout the battle, supporting her in every way we can.

"But, particularly at this time of year, that battle has brought us a perspective on life that we never expected.

"Leading into the festive season, give your loved ones a big hug and a kiss."

The entire cricket family wish Maxy, Cindy and his family the very best during this extremely challenging time.

 Image Id: 41E8FEDBE459481483607C34283E7732