Josh Cobb named Warwickshire Boys Academy Lead

Warwickshire have appointed former Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Worcestershire allrounder Josh Cobb as its new Boys Academy Lead.

Cobb – who scored more than 13,000 runs in a career spanning 17 years – will oversee the development and progression of the Club’s most promising teenage talent.

The 34-year-old has a wealth of experience in red and white ball cricket and has captained both Leicestershire’s and Northamptonshire’s white ball sides.

And he has fond memories of Edgbaston. Cobb has two NatWest Blast winners’ medals to his name, in 2011 and 2016 when he was named Player of the Match in both finals.

“My challenge is to keep developing homegrown players that can go on to play for the Bears and England,” said Cobb, who made 12 Vitality Blast appearances last season for Worcestershire Rapids.

“To help the Club’s young talent realise their dreams of playing out there in the middle at Edgbaston, not just for a few games but to represent Warwickshire 100-plus times.

“I’m fresh out of the game. I’ve done the transition myself from Academy into the professional game, hopefully I can be a mentor for the lads and have a good view on what’s required to make it professionally.

“The facilities for the Academy here, the Indoor School, is excellent, one of the best in the country, so there is no better breeding ground for young talent.

“I’m excited at the chance to lead an Academy at such a great Club like Warwickshire, one that’s had a lot of success over a number of years.”

Warwickshire’s Academy has produced the likes of Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, Rob Yates and Sam Hain in recent years, plus young England players Hamza Shaikh and Taz Ali.

Seven players have been inducted into the 24-25 Academy, while 10 more teenagers are in the Club’s Emerging Player Programme (EPP) who are all aspiring to transition to the Academy.

Cobb – who took 133 career wickets with his off-spin – made his First Class debut for Leicestershire aged 17 and became the county’s youngest century-maker when he made an unbeaten 148 against Middlesex at Lord’s in 2008.

One of his finest hours came at Edgbaston in 2016 when his audacious 80 took Northants to NatWest Blast glory against Durham and earned him the Player of the Match accolade.

Warwickshire Head of Athlete Performance Paul Greetham, said: “Josh is hugely experienced, knows what it takes to transition from Academy into the professional game and to have a successful career. And he is a leader with plenty of captaincy experience, including recently (2022, pic above) with Welsh Fire in The Hundred.

“He has developed his coaching and mentoring skills over recent years and his knowledge and skills will be of great benefit for our Academy prospects.

“Josh’s appointment is a major coup for the Bears. He has a reputation as one of the sharpest cricket brains on the domestic circuit. We know he will be passing on his current and insightful views on the game to the boys on our pathway.”