Star Waratah allrounder James Seymour has added motivation going into the Darwin Premier Grade Cricket Grand Final. He says he should be playing for Victoria

WINNING what would be his first title for Waratah in Saturday’s Darwin Premier Grade final against Palmerston at DXC Arena is not the only motivating factor for star allrounder James Seymour.Seymour – who has had a long association with the Red Caps – also believes he’s close to making the Victorian senior team.

James Seymour has had an excellent 2020 Darwin Premier Grade Cricket season with the bat and ball. Him and his minor premiership-winning teammates are confident they can beat Palmerston in the final at Marrara on Saturday. Picture: CHE CHORLEY

WINNING what would be his first title for Waratah in Saturday’s Darwin Premier Grade final against Palmerston at DXC Arena is not the only motivating factor for star allrounder James Seymour.

Seymour – who has had a long association with the Red Caps – also believes he’s close to making the Victorian senior team.

The veteran 28-year-old scored five fifties and took 24 wickets for Essendon in Victoria Premier Grade in the 2019-20 season.

He also posted two half-centuries and took six scalps with his left-arm orthodox spin for the Victoria Second XI over the southern summer.

“It was disappointing I didn’t play at that higher level because I had a good summer, and I played well with the Second XI,” Seymour told the NT News.

“It gets harder to get picked as you get older.

“But maybe I could still get an opportunity to play in the BBL (Big Bash League).

“We’ll see what happens. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I know I haven’t left a stone unturned and given it my best shot.”

Along with this added motivation to perform and win his first Top End title, Seymour will take a lot of confidence into today’s competition decider.

He struck a classy 100 off 113 balls to help Waratah to a comprehensive 124-run win over Darwin in last Saturday’s semi-final.

“Winning the toss helped and batting on a flat wicket,” Seymour said.

“It would’ve been nice to play some red-ball cricket and have the opportunity to bat longer.

“But I’m pretty happy I scored three hundreds this season (including 112 off 73 balls against the Darwin Districts Invitational XI in the CDU Top End T20).

“I’ve been happy to contribute and play my role in the team every week, and help the team get off to a good start.”

Seymour also took 16 wickets at an average of 18.63 each over the regular season.

“Nothing much has changed with my bowling – I’ve just been putting the ball on the stumps,” he said.

“Batsmen have to take more chances in one-dayers, which gives you more of a chance of getting wickets.

“Our spinning quartet of Udara and Madura (Weerasinghe), Ishara (Gange) and myself – we’ve worked well together.”

As for Palmerston in today’s competition decider, the Red Caps players – raging-hot favourites – will back their collective abilities to prevail over the 2018 champions.

“We’ll go in with a lot of confidence, and we’re all feeling pretty fresh (with a bye the week before Waratah’s big semi-final win over the Eagles),” Seymour said.

“I’m impressed Palmerston made the final after beating Southern Districts (by 10 runs in last Saturday’s thrilling semi-final).”