The Isle of Wight-born granddad of a potential county cricket star of the future is confident the teenager will break into Hampshire’s first team this season.
Josh Croom, the 18-year old grandson of Graham Daish, one of the Island’s most successful football managers of all time, has just signed academy forms for Hampshire, while playing Grade cricket in South Australia.
The 6ft 4in left arm fast bowler, who has been playing for South Wilts in the Southern Premier League, is currently enjoying a purple patch in form for Glenelg in Adelaide.
His bowling figures of 2-12, 4-31 and 7-23 for the seconds recently catapulted him into the first team — an unusual pick for an English cricketer at First Grade level, the highest in Australia.
Josh, who is spending the winter at the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy, grabbed the headlines — rising to the occasion to grab figures of 4-19 off ten accurate overs against Port Adelaide. He was wicketless in the second innings, but Glenelg emerged crushing winners to set up a key two-day play-off qualifier against Woodville on Saturday when Croom will play alongside Australia ODI batsman/wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
A positive result will put Glenelg into the Grand Finals, after which Josh will return to England and join the Hampshire Academy to pursue his dream of playing first class cricket. on March 31.
Josh, from Stratford-Sub-Castle on the outskirts of Salisbury, was clocked as the fastest bowler for his age in the country when he was 13.
Josh’s Island-born grandfather, Graham (left above), who moved to Salisbury to be close to his family, was delighted with the teenager’s progress.
“When he made it into the Glenelg first team, Australian one day international, Kane Richardson, texted Josh to congratulate him,” said Graham, who led East Cowes Vics two successive Hampshire Football League championships in the Eighties having previously played at right-back for the Whippingham club.
“He was selected to bowl against the Australian team, between T-20 matches, when based at the Ageas Bowl, then selected to be in their bubble for three weeks as a bowler, between tests, when Australia played India in Adelaide.
“Josh struck up some good friendships with them. “I’m very proud of what he has achieved so far. I reckon he will make it into the Hampshire first team before the season is out.”
* Article produced by kind permission of the Isle of Wight County Press.
Josh Croom, the 18-year old grandson of Graham Daish, one of the Island’s most successful football managers of all time, has just signed academy forms for Hampshire, while playing Grade cricket in South Australia.
The 6ft 4in left arm fast bowler, who has been playing for South Wilts in the Southern Premier League, is currently enjoying a purple patch in form for Glenelg in Adelaide.
His bowling figures of 2-12, 4-31 and 7-23 for the seconds recently catapulted him into the first team — an unusual pick for an English cricketer at First Grade level, the highest in Australia.
Josh, who is spending the winter at the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy, grabbed the headlines — rising to the occasion to grab figures of 4-19 off ten accurate overs against Port Adelaide. He was wicketless in the second innings, but Glenelg emerged crushing winners to set up a key two-day play-off qualifier against Woodville on Saturday when Croom will play alongside Australia ODI batsman/wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
A positive result will put Glenelg into the Grand Finals, after which Josh will return to England and join the Hampshire Academy to pursue his dream of playing first class cricket. on March 31.
Josh, from Stratford-Sub-Castle on the outskirts of Salisbury, was clocked as the fastest bowler for his age in the country when he was 13.
Josh’s Island-born grandfather, Graham (left above), who moved to Salisbury to be close to his family, was delighted with the teenager’s progress.
“When he made it into the Glenelg first team, Australian one day international, Kane Richardson, texted Josh to congratulate him,” said Graham, who led East Cowes Vics two successive Hampshire Football League championships in the Eighties having previously played at right-back for the Whippingham club.
“He was selected to bowl against the Australian team, between T-20 matches, when based at the Ageas Bowl, then selected to be in their bubble for three weeks as a bowler, between tests, when Australia played India in Adelaide.
“Josh struck up some good friendships with them. “I’m very proud of what he has achieved so far. I reckon he will make it into the Hampshire first team before the season is out.”
* Article produced by kind permission of the Isle of Wight County Press.
