The Sturt paceman, pictured left, has been in brilliant form after the opening four matches of the season, capturing a competition-leading 14 wickets at an average of 7.57 and an economy rate of 1.68 runs per over.

He snared an impressive 5/21 from 25 overs in round one against Adelaide and followed it up with 4/15 from 14.3 overs against Adelaide University the following week.

But the 25-year-old is lucky to be still be playing cricket after being hit a serious case of appendicitis two years ago, which led to a severe case of blood poisoning.

Cece spent a month in hospital and in his own words was lucky to be alive.

“I was in real trouble there for a while,” he said. “I was really sick and I lost a lot of weight, I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it.”

But he said thanks to some good doctors he pulled through.

While it took him a season to recover, he is now fully fit for the first time in two years and credited this to his good form.

“It’s all about fitness, the last few seasons I’ve had interrupted preseasons through injury and illness,” he said.

“This preseason I’ve got four to five months in of solid training.

“You play long days in grade cricket and I used to struggle at the end of the day in my fourth or fifth spell.

“But now that’s a strong point.”

Cece now hopes to continue to take wickets in the grade competition and put his name in front of State second XI selectors.

“I’d to get to that level but I’m just concentrating on playing well for Sturt at the moment,” he said.