Last summer, he blasted his way to the top of the Super Smash run-scoring chart with 424 runs at a strike rate of 131.27 and average of 47.11.
The 25-year-old South African-born all-rounder grabbed nine wickets as well — five of them in one game.
He was named New Zealand domestic cricketer of the year and was called up for the Black Caps.
The right-hander made his international debut in a T20 against the UAE in Dubai on August 20 and got a run in an ODI against Bangladesh in September.
It was a wonderful season that was two years in the making, essentially.
Foxcroft had gone home to South Africa at the end of the 2019-20 season and was unable to return due to New Zealand’s border restrictions following the pandemic.
His focus was on getting back here and making the most of it once he finally got his passport stamped.
But life has changed again, and in a good way.
He has become a dad. His wife, Reandi, gave birth to the couple’s first child, son Andrew Wyn Foxcroft, on November 15, eight weeks ahead of schedule.
He has also received a promotion at work. He has taken over the Volts captaincy reins from Hamish Rutherford this season and that brings additional pressure.
His form has wavered just a little under all that extra load.
But T20 is his strongest and favourite format. He is 26 runs short of 1000 career runs. And he boasts an average north of 40 and a strike rate just a touch under 130.
It is a world-class return and he is hoping for more of that kind of success when Otago get their T20 campaign under way against Wellington at the Basin Reserve this afternoon.
"It has been a weird season so far for me, personally, to be honest," Foxcroft said.
"But also for us as a team."
The Volts converted a couple of potential wins in the Plunket Shield into two close defeats, and more disappointment awaited in a stop-start first half to the one-day tournament.
But Foxcroft believes the team is in a good space despite some setbacks.
"I feel like our season is going to start now. The fun stuff starts now and I think the boys are looking forward to it.
"We’ve got a young team with a lot of talent."
The Volts made it to the playoffs last season and Foxcroft was a big part of that.
"Obviously I did pretty well, but last season is gone and I’ve got a new role as a captain.
"It’s a bit different and there are a lot of challenges.
"With captaincy, you have to be on the button every second. You are thinking all the time about who is going to bowl and when, and about the field placements.
"But, look, I’ve got heaps of experience around me with Jacob Duffy and Max Chu as part of my leadership team.
"I’m going to need them and Matt Bacon as well. He has played a lot of cricket."
Otago have named a relatively settled side for the opener.
All-rounder Luke Georgeson is poised to make his T20 debut for the province, while all-rounder Ollie White will also be on debut if he is not carrying the drinks.
Left-arm pace bowler Andrew Hazeldine returns from a side strain for his first game of the season.
Auckland posted a 28-run win over Canterbury in the opening game of the tournament on Tuesday. The Aces thumped 185 for five at Eden Park Outer Oval and rolled Canterbury for 157.
Super Smash
Basin Reserve, 4pm
Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Jake Gibson, Dean Foxcroft (captain), Dale Phillips, Llew Johnson, Max Chu, Luke Georgeson, Ben Lockrose, Andrew Hazeldine, Travis Muller, Matt Bacon, Ollie White.
Wellington: Nick Kelly (captain), Muhammad Abbas, Nick Greenwood, Troy Johnson, Callum McLachlan, Ollie Newton, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Michael Snedden, Jesse Tashkoff, Logan Van Beek, Pete Younghusband.
