Carlisle preparing for Blundstone baptism after signing Tasmanian contract

That's the question the fast bowler looks forward to answering after he was handed a Tasmanian rookie contract for the upcoming summer of cricket.

As someone who has previously had success in Tasmania, he's looking forward to spending an entire summer on the Apple Isle.

"It was really exciting to find out I was able to sign my first professional contract," Carlisle said.

"It's something you dream of for a long time. When you start playing, you want to make it a career, for it to become reality is surreal.

"I've performed well when I've gone down to Tasmania, the style I bowl suits the conditions. I like to get the ball up there and swing it, so it will be a good place for me to play my cricket."

The deal marks the 19-year-old's first professional contract and comes after a standout junior career.

The Wests Illawarra junior has starred for Campbelltown-Camden in the Sydney first grade competition over the past two and a half years and represented Australia Under 19 on 10 occasions.

The most recent was a tour to Sri Lanka that saw him claim 4-60 in the team's first match. His first time in Sri Lanka, Carlisle said he took a lot out of the experience.

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"The trip to Sri Lanka was unreal, going overseas and experiencing different conditions.

"It was my first overseas tour, so it was a bit of culture shock, we were treated like celebrities. They love their cricket, so it was a good taste of what professional life will be like.

"The pitches were different, but playing on a lot of flat, hard pitches in Sydney, you start with the new ball and it swings a lot, but after that it does become a struggle. Sri Lanka was like that, you have to toil away and the pitch doesn't offer much for fast bowlers.

"From those pitches, it will be unreal to play on the Bellerive Oval pitch. The conditions down there are well tailored to my style and it's a place I think I can have success for a long time."

Carlisle will join the likes of Jackson Bird, James Faulkner and Gurinder Sandhu in Tasmania and while he is eager to jump in and learn from the team's veterans, he will have to bide his time.

The quick is currently recovering from a stress fracture in his back, an injury that he hopes to recover in time for the start of the season. Given the high risk of re-injury for a young quick bowler such as Carlisle, the teenager said he won't be rushing his recovery and is prepared to bide his time before making his state debut.

"The plan at the moment is to be back for the start of the season, but if it does take longer, I'm not too worried.

"I'm mainly focused on making sure I get back when I'm ready to come back, when I'm fit and ready to go, rather than rushing back.

"I want to make sure I do all my rehab properly, tick every box. It's a blessing that it's the off-season, I'm able to take my time to make sure I'm ticking all my boxes with my rehab."

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