James Seymour –
A Story of Perseverance
On a sunny day at the MCG in November 2021, James Seymour nudged Test great Nathan Lyon through point to bring up his maiden first-class ton for Victoria at age 29.
What preceded this moment was a decade of graft and persistence, as well as a weight of runs right around the country.
Having grown up in Bendigo, James shifted to Melbourne and started in Essendon’s Third XI. Having been constantly overlooked for junior representative sides throughout his teenage years, James never gave up on what seemed, at times, an unlikely dream.
That he eventually earned a state contract, playing for Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades against some of the biggest stars in world cricket, should come as a beacon of light to overlooked cricketers in an era of talent identification and state pathways.
A dogged determination to make it as a cricketer has defined James’ career, and it is this work ethic and desire to succeed that he hopes to pass on to younger cricketers through the JSCA. It is difficult to make the argument that there is a stone unturned in James’ cricket career. Through the Academy, James hopes to pass on his experiences and help younger cricketers harness the resilience and grit that are required to make it to the top level.
His story of perseverance makes him an ideal mentor and coach to anyone chasing the dream of professional cricket.