Considering how fearsome he is with the bat, it’s probably no surprise to hear that Tom Cross has given up playing rugby to focus on his cricket.
The talented 22 year old is currently averaging 105.5 runs for Taylor’s Contracting Wanderers and even he admits his current form is the best of his career. “92, I think 65?, 174, and 62 not out,” Tom says, running through his stats from the past four matches before the weekend’s 14 against Waimea Toi Toi United. “I’m very happy, especially to get that first 100 for the club. I’m on the honours board at Wanderers so it’s good.”
For the first time in a long time, Wanderers are one of the big players in Nelson Cricket. They’ve been involved in both the two-day and twenty20 finals – the latter it won by ten wickets.
Tom has been a key part of that success – he hit an unbeaten 62 runs in the twenty20 final win, and just two weeks ago he smashed 17 sixes to score 174 runs in his side’s record 501/4 one day total. “It’s been good. We’ve made two finals and hopefully we’ll be in a third.”
That form resulted in Tom being called back into the Golden Edge Nelson Griffins for their Newman Shield clash with Marlborough. Although Nelson lost the tight contest, Tom’s 37 runs gave the home side a solid start.
So what has changed in 2014? “Well I’m just more focused I guess,” he says. “There’s more want. I’m just in my zone and trying to hit it. But there’s a bit of luck involved. I think everything’s going my way really.”
Just a few years ago Tom had half of his left foot amputated when it was crushed in a bobcat bucket in a work related accident, so naturally you’d assume he had more of a future in cricket than rugby – where he played for Waimea Old Boys. But it’s actually the love of the summer sport that has seen a bigger focus on cricket, and this winter Tom won’t be putting on his rugby boots, instead he’s heading to England to play cricket for Gorran.
Wanderers team-mate Dean Hawley had initially planned to go but an injury has ruled him out, opening the door for Tom. “I’ve always wanted to go overseas and travel. It’ll be very different over there, with the weather and pitches, but hopefully I can perform.”
