Down Under with Josh

Sussex Cricket is not only about the professional game, the recreational side is flourishing with participation rising 13% in 2009.

The recreational game ranges from Sunday village cricket to the Sussex Premier League, with over 20,000 people taking part in regular cricket across Sussex. We’ve signed up Josh Poysden, Brighton and Hove 1st XI Leg-Spinner, who is spending the winter in Australia playing cricket for Gordon District CC.

Josh, 18, will put together some blogs for us over the winter to give us an inside view of what goes on for an aspiring cricketer in Australia.

On September 16th I arrived in Australia to play Sydney Grade Cricket for Gordon District CC. It was something that I had always wanted to do and when former Brighton and Hove overseas players Hamish Angus and Julian Stephenson offered me the chance, there was no way I was going to turn it down! It was the perfect opportunity; make new friends and experience living away from home whilst having 6 months just to work on improving my cricket, so I can be the best player I could possibly be.

Grade Cricket is very intense and is different to the Sussex Premier League. Clubs train twice a week and the training is very professional with specific batting and bowling coaches, nets are all turf wickets and there are always fielding drills going on.

The majority of games are two day games, which take place over two weeks, but there also some rounds where two dayers are played over a weekend, or there are one day games instead. Alongside the grade competition, there is also the Poidevin Grey Shield, which is an Under 21 comp. All of these games are played on Sundays and are played as fifty over games in coloured kit.

Training is going well and has been one of the best positives of the trip so far; I love how competitive the Aussies are and I find myself improving after every week. It’s also great training with players such as Beau Casson (Recent Australian Test Spinner) and James Packman (Former New South Wales Batsmen). On the pitch I have really enjoyed my cricket and am pleased with my performances so far. I am currently the leading wicket taker in the club with 31 wickets @ 16.55. 2010 has gone particularly well so far with a 5-33, 4-31 and 2-36 off 8 in a Poidevin Gray game against strong opposition.

There are 3 other young players from Sussex out here with me, Curtis Ford and Charlie Hetherton (also Brighton and Hove CC), and Aaron Yeomans (Seaford CC). Charlie is playing for Roseville CC in the Sydney Shires Competition (next level down from Grade) and Aaron and Curtis are also playing in the Shires Comp for Macquarie University CC. Macquarie are a sister club to Gordon. We are lucky to all be living together as we struggled to find accommodation in the first few weeks here, the president of Curtis and Aaron’s club also lives with us. He is a top bloke and has provided us with a lot of help over our time here.

In terms of an average week, I will rest on Monday after a hard weekend of cricket so probably go and relax at one of the many beaches Sydney has to offer. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have Gordon training. On Wednesday I train with Macquarie Uni with Curtis and Aaron. Friday will be another relaxing day before games on Saturdays and a lot of Sundays. In the week I also try and fit in some fitness session as we are lucky enough to have a gym in our apartment complex. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays I also do some coaching work at Barker College, a school that sends a student to come and play for Brighton and Hove CC each year.

We have had a lot of people to come out to visit us, my family came out for Christmas which was great, and Joe Gatting also came to stay with us for Christmas and New Year, which was amazing to be on Sydney Harbour for the fireworks.

I have two and a half months left out here and with my team and PGs team being in contention for finals spots here, I hope to bring some medals home!

I leave Sydney the day after the Grade Finals on April 5th, and will go straight into training at home. This season is a big one for me as I look to push onto higher levels, so let’s hope all goes well!