Mt Lawley District Cricket Club player James Newnham runs into the record books.
Camera IconMt Lawley District Cricket Club player James Newnham runs into the record books. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Cricket: Mt Lawley’s Newnham reaches 5000 A-Grade runs

Julian WrightEastern Reporter

CRICKETER James Newnham has entered the record books by reaching 5000 A-Grade runs.

The opener began in 2005 and carved out 67 on debut for the Centurions at the Joondalup Districts Cricket Club.

Since then, Newnham plies his trade for Mt Lawley, with his three seasons for the side being some of his best.

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He said his love for the game was a huge catalyst behind his continued success.

“Moving over to a new club is never easy, but once I settled in there and got to know the guys, I really started enjoying my cricket a bit more,” he said.

Newnham has always enjoyed the challenge of batting within the top order, with his game built around facing the best bowlers in the state.

“Ever since juniors I have opened the batting,” he said.

“I have pretty much stuck with it the whole way through.

“I love facing the new ball; when I come into bat the field is always up, so I kind of get a free rein in a sense.”

The Hawks leader pinpoints being dropped at his former club as the turning point in his career, with his move to Mt Lawley giving him a new lease on life.

“Getting dropped to second grade at Joondalup, that was definitely a wake-up call,” he said.

“When I moved over to Mt Lawley they welcomed me and I really haven’t looked back since.”

After five half-centuries this season, Newnham looks poised to have another big impact on the competition, with the youthful Hawks beginning to come together as a unit.

“We have a pretty young side, but we are going all right and starting to jell together,” he said.

“I just want to keep scoring runs and would like to go on with a few more scores, after a few 50s and 60s.”