Bradninch & Kentisbeare CC youngster all set for ‘cricketing trip of a lifetime’ to South Africa.
Joshua Stewart is looking forward later this year to travelling to South Africa to experience cricket in a very different environment to the one in which he has been playing in over the past few years.
Fifteen-year-old Joshua will travel to South Africa as a member of the Devon Under-16 squad who will be in the country to play local sides while also taking in some of the incredible scenery and experiences that South Africa has to offer.
We caught up with Joshua for a chat about his cricketing journey to date and he began by saying: “I am so grateful to everybody connected with Bradninch & Kentisbeare CC, in particular, for all the help and advice – and opportunity – I received last season as I went from being a ‘fringe’ 3rd XI player to a regular wicket taker in the 2nd XI”.
In terms of his educational journey to date Joshua began as a pupil at Clyst Hydon Primary School and then attended Cullompton Community College, the latter until September 2023 when he moved across to Blundell’s School in Tiverton.
Joshua is a left arm off-spinner and bats left hand and, when drawn as to which of the cricketing disciplines he prefers he is quick to say that whilst he enjoys batting he does prefer bowling.
When asked as to how he got interested in the sport of cricket he responds: “It was at Clyst Hydon Primary School that I began playing cricket and it was Mr Walker, who ran an after school ‘club’ where it really all started. It was Mr Walker who encouraged me to join a club and that’s how I got involved at Kentisbeare Cricket Club when I was 10”.
In more general coaching terms, Joshua says: “At Kentisbeare Cricket Club it was Scott Chappell who was my very first coach and I have also been fortunate enough to have been coached by Paul Diamond and other coaches from the Devon County Youth set-up. However, in terms of more recent coaching over the past 18 months, the coach who has had the biggest impact on me is Andrew Buzza who has really helped me refine my skills with my batting and, most importantly, with my bowling. Andrew has proven to be a great mentor for me”.
Away from his own cricket development, when asked as to which players he has ‘looked up to’ and admired, Joshua says: “My first ‘favourite player’ has to be Joe Root and I can remember watching him score 190 in his first test as England captain, but then, as I got older, I began to admire the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Shakib Al Hassan as I can relate to their ‘snappy’ left-arm orthodox style”.
In terms of a personal ambition with his cricket, Joshua says: “I am really focussed on hopefully continuing to develop my club cricket with Bradninch & Kentisbeare Cricket Club and ultimately playing in a 1st XI that once again lifts the Devon Premier League”.
If you would like to support Josh’s trip in any way, there is a Go Fund Me page with all the details here
Alternatively, you can get in touch with the club for more information about how to support.