James Crosthwaite was brought into reigning Victorian Premier Cricket champion Footscray Edgewater as a high-profile recruit with a view of contributing a stack of runs and further strengthening a formidable top order.
On Saturday, the 27-year-old vindicated that move by delivering his first half-century for the Bulldogs in an eight-wicket win against Ringwood at the Russell Lucas Oval.
Crosthwaite hit 811 at 45 for Geelong last summer, making him a top-five batsman in the competition, but walking into a new club, particularly the defending premier, he needed to prove his worth all over again.
After missing out on the runs in round one, Crosthwaite was ecstatic to raise his bat for the first time in the red, white and blue with 58.
“I was very happy,” he said. “I missed out last week and I was starting to feel like I wouldn’t mind getting some runs early in the season.
“It was just a great day for the club – we won with a bonus point and everyone played good cricket.”
Crosthwaite is keen to form an imposing opening partnership with Bulldogs captain Dean Russ.
The pair’s time in the middle in the first two games has been limited, but Crosthwaite believes the left-right combination will pose headaches for opposition captains.
“I’m very excited to be opening with Dean Russ,” he said.
“He is a class player and I think the two of us batting together at the top can get our side in a great position to win games.
“Being left [Russ] and right [Crosthwaite], it does put pressure on opposition bowlers … If we rotate the strike like we plan to, it can be unsettling for opposition bowlers.”
Cricket has been kind to Crosthwaite.
His journey has taken him interstate as a one-time contracted player for the New South Wales Blues and overseas to wield the willow in Britain and even the US.
He still yearns to represent his state at Sheffield Shield level and wants to remain in the thoughts of Victorian Bushrangers’ selectors.
“I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to play all over the world,” Crosthwaite said.
“It’s been a good ride. I’ve had my ups and downs form-wise, but right now I feel like I’m at the top of my game and hitting the ball as well as I ever have.
“I never want to give up on the dream.
“I’ve got to keep on scoring runs, hopefully get big runs … who knows?
“At the moment, it’s all about playing for Footscray – playing club cricket, getting wins and hopefully winning a premiership, which would be amazing.”
Crosthwaite has enjoyed his move to the Kennel.
His decision to leave Geelong was not one taken lightly, but he felt it was necessary in order to cut down on travel to and from his Pascoe Vale home and to be able get the best out of himself.
“It was a lot of the travel that I couldn’t do any more,” he said.
“I wanted to be able to make training and to be able to keep working on my cricket and keep aspiring to the next level if possible.
“Footscray has been absolutely wonderful getting me across there. So far so good – it seems like an absolutely perfect club.”
