Whitridge joined a cricket team that had claimed a part of Victoria Square for a practice pitch. When the Government set aside a portion of the parklands for a cricket ground, he was, at age 18, a major impetus behind formation of an association in May 1871 to organise district and interstate matches. He was known as a fine bowler: in the seasons 1877–1878 and 1878–1879 he had bowling averages of 5.24 and 4.09 respectively. In one match against Victoria he took 8 wickets for 10 runs, though there were occasional rumblings about his action verging on a "throw". He represented South Australia on the Australian Cricket Board in the 1890s along with John Creswell and Mostyn Evan.