Josh’s journey to the next level

From the day he could walk, Josh Thompson has been setting new standards of sporting potential, and this summer will take the talented teenager to the second tier of Devon cricket.

As a footballer, Josh gained a reputation for scoring goals with his hammer left foot but it is on the cricket pitch where the Torquay Academy student has made the biggest waves, impressing everyone with his powerful batting and mature bowling action.

Josh learned the ropes alongside his dad Marcus at Babbacombe Cricket Club, where the Walls Hill duo proudly led their team to glory in the Brockman Cup.

After receiving multiple offers to continue his cricketing education, Josh has signed for A Division club Torquay & Kingskerswell, where he was coached as a junior by Justin Yau and Ben Passenger.

Dad Marcus said: “As soon as he could stand up, we had a bucket of footballs, cricket balls and tennis balls, and we would spend hours in the hallway throwing balls at him to hit back with a cricket bat or tennis racquet.

“Josh played in a Kwik Cricket tournament for Year 5 and 6 kids when he was in Year 2, and he signed for Torquay as a junior at the age of seven. Even from that early age, he was hitting the ball very hard and taking wickets, which led to a call-up for the South Devon representative side.

“He was always playing up the age groups, later moving across to Ipplepen to play with some of his Devon team-mates. They had an amazing junior section and it was a natural progression into adult cricket.

“Josh joined Babbacombe two years ago, where he was offered the opportunity to open the bowling and bat at number four.

“It goes without saying that playing in the same team as my son has been magical. It’s hard not to get emotional about it but watching him develop on the pitch has been so special. We opened the batting together last season and normally Josh smashing the ball everywhere and me standing at the other end.

“The best moment of my cricketing life was the Brockman Cup Final, where we set an opening stand record of around 120 runs. Josh won man of the match and I had the best seat in the house.”

Josh added: “It has been really special to open the batting with my dad, having that wise head at the other end to keep me calm.

“I would consider myself as an all-rounder and when it comes to batting, I enjoy hitting the ball hard to hopefully overpower bowlers, and with the ball in hand, I’m trying to manipulate batsmen, watching how they play to try and take wickets.

“Moving to Torquay & Kingskerswell was a tough choice at the beginning because I had so many voices in my ear. It was a bit overwhelming at times but, having chatted with them, it became the obvious choice.

“We met with Tim Western, Mike Pugh and Harry Passenger at the club, and they made the decision much easier for me.

“My only focus for the summer is to enjoy the experience and make an impression at the highest level I have played at so far. In the long-term, my aim is to just continue improving on the cricket field, as a batsman and a bowler.”