Crosthwaite hoping to catch eye of IPL

Victorian wicketkeeper Adam Crosthwaite is hopeful the Indian Premier League's (IPL) powerbrokers extend their casting net far to cover Australia's next generation of aspiring Twenty20 cricket stars.

With a game and vibrant personality suited to the shortened format, Crosthwaite would one day love to take his acrobatic keeping and swashbuckling batting to the IPL.

So it's little wonder he is desperate for Victoria to regain their best Twenty20 form and reach this summer's final, which would secure a berth in the inaugural Champions League in India and an audition before IPL franchise owners.

Although that seems the most likely route for domestic players impressing, Crosthwaite was encouraged by the Delhi Daredevils' recent signing of NSW batsman David Warner, and hoped other franchises would look closely at Australian state players.

"Everyone is looking for the diamond in the rough," Crosthwaite said ahead of Victoria's Twenty20 match against Western Australia at the MCG on Thursday night.

"David Warner hits the ball really well and good on him, he's a sensational talent.

"Hopefully it does get like that (IPL franchises looking further), it's one of those things that if a young player can get an opportunity there's a lot of young players out there who can actually do the job.

"We've got many guys in our squad who can do a job exactly like that - we've seen Bliz (opener Aiden Blizzard) do it in the final last year, and over time Bobby Quiney has done it."

The rematch of last summer's final is a big one, as Victoria (top) and WA (third) both have two wins from three matches.

Despite the lure of playing in India, Crosthwaite said the Bushrangers had to adopt a relaxed mindset following last Sunday's defeat to Queensland.

"That's something we've been very big on, making sure we've got our eyes just on the game and every step in Twenty20 cricket we're relaxed and free," he said.

"That's exactly why the captain gave us a bake after the Queensland game.

"He said we weren't backing ourselves and that we need to get out there and back our instincts and whack the ball, because we do it really well."

Victoria named a squad of 13 including allrounder Andrew McDonald despite him playing in the third Test against South Africa.

Fellow allrounder John Hastings and batsman Chris Rogers were added, at the expense of fast bowler Clinton McKay and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, the 12th man against the Bulls.

WA dropped batsman Luke Pomersbach, and replaced him in the squad with Liam Davis.

Friday's game will be preceded by a curtain-raiser between the Victorian and Western Australian women's teams.

Victorian wicketkeeper Emma Inglis said playing at the famous ground had buoyed the Spirit, who have already enjoyed a strong start to the season.

"A few of the girls who are in the team, this will be their first time playing on the MCG, so we're really excited and that builds the excitement within the team," Inglis said.