Crosthwaite relocates to Sydney

The wicketkeeper Adam Crosthwaite is heading to Sydney to try his luck with New South Wales after deciding to leave Victoria due to a lack of opportunities. Crosthwaite was offered a Victoria contract for 2009-10 but instead has entered the player transfer pool after struggling to oust Matthew Wade from the Sheffield Shield side last summer.

Crosthwaite has been Victoria's first-choice gloveman in the 50-over and Twenty20 formats, where his inventive batting has been an asset to the lower order. However, the Bushrangers preferred Wade as a four-day specialist and Crosthwaite's only two Sheffield Shield appearances last season were as a batsman only.

Wade's strong 2008-09 season, which included 545 runs at 49.54 and a Victorian record 57 dismissals, made Crosthwaite's decision easier. He had been the state's No. 1 wicketkeeper following the retirement of Darren Berry and played 26 first-class games but found himself vying for the role when Wade switched from Tasmania two summers ago.

Crosthwaite will captain the Sydney side Manly but is in the tough position of having to force his way past Daniel Smith as the first-choice wicketkeeper when Brad Haddin is away. Also in the queue of glovemen at New South Wales are Peter Nevill and Crosthwaite's own brother James. By leaving Victoria, Crosthwaite has also given up the chance to play in the Champions League Twenty20 in India in October.

"It's pretty scary knocking back a contract here for no guarantees somewhere else, particularly when financially-wise the Champions [League] could be so fruitful," Crosthwaite told the Herald Sun. "But at the end of the day you don't play cricket for money, you play in the hope to represent Australia - and you have to be playing first-class cricket to do that."