Alex Price: More than just that mic'd up moment

If you watched any Rebel WBBL action last summer, there’s a very good chance you will be familiar with Adelaide Strikers spinner Alex Price’s warbling rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You.

The moment – in equal parts hilarious and cringeworthy – came while notorious joker Price was mic’d up in the field during the Strikers’ clash with the Sydney Thunder last December.

It quickly went viral and has since been replayed countless times during Strikers matches, on YouTube and across social media.

So, does she regret doing it?

"Sometimes I think, ‘Why did I do that?’" a laughing Price told cricket.com.au.

"It’s followed me around and sometimes I wish I never did it.

"Other times I think ‘wow, what a voice’ (laughs).

"People who don’t know me so well think I’m a bit different, and I am probably a bit different, but my teammates seem to think it’s pretty funny."

When Price’s Strikers teammates were recently asked to describe the off-spinner in one word, their responses included: Quirky. Different. Unique. Annoying (twice).

But there is another side to the South Australian, away from the renowned dressing-room pest and the cricketer who serenades television viewers.

"There are definitely two sides to Alex, but most people only see one side," Strikers allrounder Tahlia McGrath told cricket.com.au.

"She’s funny, she brings the best out of people but at the same time she’s a bit of a pest … every team’s got to have one.

"She also has a serious side – she is very passionate with what she does outside (of cricket)."

It is those qualities that make 24-year-old Price a perfect fit for her other job: a teacher who works with children with special needs.

Since making her South Australian debut aged 16 in 2012, Price has been a fixture of the Scorpions set-up, while she was also part of the Strikers’ inaugural squad in WBBL|01.

But away from cricket she has also been busy, dedicating her time to becoming a qualified teacher.

"I really enjoy working with kids with special needs," Price said.

"Teaching is a passion of mine and I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am with my teaching.

"This is a new challenge for me, the kids are great and I have a lot of fun with them.

"They give me a bit of a hard time with my cricket (but) it’s good.

"I think I’ve grown up around schools so I’ve always really liked helping other people … I just really enjoy being around people, anyone who can make me smile."

Rest assured, her students have given that moment on the mic plenty of airtime in the classroom this year.

"I have had some requests, my students have given me a few," Price said. "But some are raps, which I can’t really spit out."

The Alex Price the fans see on the field appears to have boundless energy, but what she brings as a teammate, on and off the field, goes beyond the jokes and laughter.

"She’s very uplifting and very honest as well," Strikers spearhead Megan Schutt told cricket.com.au.

"She’s one of those characters who is also very passionate about her cricket so you know she’s going to fight on that field and give it 100 per cent every game.

"(She’s also) wise beyond her years, she’s quite young and you only see the young side on the field but off the field she does a lot to help a lot of people and is always there if you need a good conversation."

Adelaide will host a WBBL Festival Weekend across Saturday and Sunday with three matches to be played at Karen Rolton Oval.

On Saturday, the Strikers take on the Perth Scorchers at 1.40pm local time (2.10pm AEDT), while on Sunday, the Scorchers play the Sydney Thunder at 10am (10.30am AEDT) before the Strikers play the Melbourne Stars at 1.40pm (2.10pm AEDT).