Josh Knappett
Joshua Philip Thomas "Josh" Knappett (born 15 April 1985) is an English first-class cricketer: a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper who has played for Oxford University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, British Universities, and Worcestershire.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Joshua Philip Thomas Knappett | |||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Westminster, London, England | 15 April 1984|||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Wicket-keeper | |||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||
2003–2009 | Worcestershire (squad no. 23) | |||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2012 | Unicorns (squad no. 12) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 off 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 Marylebone Cricket Club (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, the MCC chairman, and Geoffrey Boycott, the 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
- "Will Rhodes get the cash?". Worcester News. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
- Cricinfo staff, Unicorns name squad for Clydesdale Bank 40, 13 April 2010, Cricinfo. Retrieved on 2 May 2010.
- BBC Cricket News, Record-breaking Unicorns stun Sussex in run chase, 23 May 2010, BBC Sport. Retrieved on 23 May 2010.
- ECB News, Knappett Stars in Losing Cause, 29 August 2010, ECB. Retrieved on 29 August 2010.
- Sources
- Josh Knappett at ESPNcricinfo
- Josh Knappett at CricketArchive (subscription required)