Foxcroft back after long wait

Otago all-rounder Dean Foxcroft has arrived back in Dunedin following a two-year absence. Photo:...
Otago all-rounder Dean Foxcroft has arrived back in Dunedin following a two-year absence. Photo: Gregor Richardson
Covid cost Dean Foxcroft one season of cricket.

Loyalty cost him the other.

But rather than focus on the lost years, the 24-year-old all-rounder is determined to get back to where he was before he left New Zealand in March 2020.

That season was cut short because of the global pandemic. But Foxcroft had been in impressive form.

The former under-19 South African representative was named Otago batter of the year and it was a well-deserved honour.

The right-hander had plundered 269 runs in the Super Smash at an average of 67.25, and walloped 406 runs at an average of 50.75 in the one-day competition.

His debut season with the province had been a roaring success. He put himself on the right path to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Neil Wagner and play international cricket for New Zealand.

But that dream got derailed for a couple of summers.

He made the decision to visit family and friends in the Republic with the intention of returning returning in June 2020 to take up his playing contract.

But shortly after he left, New Zealand closed its borders and he was unable to return for two long years.

Otago stuck by Foxcroft and contracted him for 2020-21. It had hoped to secure an exemption, but was unsuccessful.

It was Foxcroft’s turn to remain loyal the following season. Otago had not been able to offer him a contract, but he remained committed to returning, which meant closing himself off to other opportunities.

He did have a stint playing in the Pakistan Super League.

He was signed by the Lahore Qalanders and played one game. He did not bat or bowl and that, folks, is all the elite level cricket he played during his absence.

"It has been a rough few years," he said.

"There were days when I was like, am I ever going to play cricket for Otago again? And the big dream is to play for New Zealand.

"It sort of felt like the dream was fading away.

"But I’m back and it is good to be back."

And so is his form, if net sessions are any indication.

"To be honest, I’ve been hitting it nicely. I’ve worked a lot with [former Black Cap] Kruger van Wyk.

"It has been two years with him just training and training. He played a lot of domestic cricket in New Zealand, so he was a big help.

"Obviously red-ball cricket is not my strongest, but I definitely want to start dominating that and score hundreds and win trophies with Otago."

There have been quite a few changes since Foxcroft last lined up for the Volts.

The coaching and management staff is new. Veterans Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen have retired, and Nick Kelly has transferred to Wellington.

"Neil and Anaru left a legacy here for us to maintain.

"But we’ve got some new faces and some boys who can put their hand up and say ‘I want to play regularly for Otago and even for New Zealand’."

Star signing Glenn Phillips might not get to play much cricket for Otago given his international commitments.

That leaves a lot of pressure on the shoulders of proven performers like Hamish Rutherford and Foxcroft.

There will be no gently easing his way back in — he will be back in the middle of the cauldron, where it is the hottest.

"I feel that a little bit. But I think pressure is a good thing. When you come under pressure and you come out on top, that is probably the best result you can get."

Foxcroft is unsure whether the clock has been reset in terms of his qualification to play for New Zealand. None of that will matter if he cannot score runs, so that is his focus.

Scoring plenty and maybe even nibbling out the odd batter with his offies.

He has waited two years for that opportunity. So have Otago fans.

adrian.seconi@odt.co.nz

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