Josh Knappett

Joshua Philip Thomas "Josh" Knappett (born 15 April 1985) is an English cricketer: a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper who has played first-class cricket for Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, British Universities, and Worcestershire.

Cricket career

Youth and early career

born 15 April 1985 in Westminster, London, Knappett grew up playing at Finchley Cricket Club in the Middlesex Premier League, playing representative cricket through the Middlesex age groups. He later went on to play 2nd Xl cricket for Middlesex at 16 before going to university at Oxford Brookes.

He made his Oxford UCCE debut in 2004, and scored his maiden first-class century (exactly 100 not out) for them against Durham on 31 May 2006. He captained the side in his final year at university and represented the British Universities against Bangladesh and later Sri Lanka.

Professional career

He made his county cricket debut in Worcestershire's last Championship game of 2007, when he played (as a batsman) in the innings defeat by Sussex that made the latter county champions. In the game, at Hove, Knappett scored seven and four. His only other first team experience was against Durham County Cricket Club at Riverside Ground in 2009. He played when Steve Davies was away representing the Lions.

Knappett was released by Worcestershire at the end of the 2009 season after a 5-year career.^[1] In 2010, Knappett was selected as one of 21 players to form the first Unicorns squad to take part in the Clydesdale Bank 40 domestic limited overs competition against the regular first-class counties. The Unicorns were made up of 15 former county cricket professionals and 6 young cricketers looking to make it in the professional game.^[2] He represented the Unicorns in every game for the first 2 years of creation, making notable performances in the world record holding highest successful run chase in a 40 over List A fixture.^[3] He made 90 of 87 balls supporting Wes Durston. He later surpassed this score when he made 91 returning to New Road, Worcester.^[4] This stayed his career best score in List A format.

MCC

In 2005 Knappett toured with MCC during their non-first-class tour of Canada. He then went on to represent the club in Botswana and Zambia, Fiji and Samoa, then more recently Bermuda under the watchful eye of Mike Griffith, MCC, chairman and Geoffrey Boycott, club ambassador.

Coaching career

Josh, is a well-respected coach, having achieved his ECB Level III at 18 years old. He is also a tutor, assessor and field-based trainer / internal verifier for delivering coach education courses. He has recently worked with Middlesex wicket keepers; Simpson and Rossington, and has acted as their off season fielding coach to their full squad.

Josh is now qualified as a UKCC ECB Level IV elite coach and is working within Middlesex County Cricket Club as West Regional Academy director and at Teddington Cricket Club as director of youth cricket and head coach.

References

Sources

• Player profile: Josh Knappett from ESPNcricinfo
• Player profile: Josh Knappett from CricketArchive