[6] Croft signed a contract to become the overseas player at Auckland Aces, one of six first-class teams clubs in New Zealand for the State championship for the 2008–09 season.

[8] During a drawn County Championship match against Warwickshire in August 2011, Croft scored the second century of his first-class career, and his first in three years.

[9][10] Though there was a three-year gap between his first and second centuries, in the next County Championship match Croft scored a third, this time an innings of 107 in a Lancashire victory over Worcestershire.

[11][12] On 15 September 2011, Croft scored the winning runs as Lancashire beat Somerset at Taunton to clinch the County Championship outright for the first time since 1934.

[19] In September 2024, announced his retirement from professional cricket at the age of 39 to move into Lancashire's coaching staff on a full-time basis.

[22] He has twice been the half-time guest at the club's home games at Bloomfield Road, firstly against Derby County on 21 October 2008.