Josh Poysden has landed in Australia for a three-month stay which he reckons will be perfect preparation for him to “hit the ground running” for Warwickshire next season.
The Bears leg-spinner has arrived in Sydney where he will train with and play for Northern District. It is his fifth winter down under having previously spent three spells with Sydney-based Gordon and one with Northern District.
I’ll be playing all formats and also hopefully will get in the nets with New South Wales and maybe even with England when they come to Sydney.
Josh Poysden
And Poysden is looking forward in particular to another chance to link up with former Australia spinner Stuart McGill for some coaching during his stay.
“I’ve worked with Stuart before and he is brilliant so I’m really looking forward to picking his brains again,” he said. “It is a great opportunity for me to come out here for three months and play some match cricket. I’ll be playing all formats and also hopefully will get in the nets with New South Wales and maybe even with England when they come to Sydney.
“It will be great preparation to then get back to Edgbaston in the marquee next spring and hit the ground running next season.
“Last season was a disappointing one for Warwickshire and a frustrating one for me but I am really looking forward to next season and hopefully playing my part in all formats and helping us get straight back up in the championship and challenge for the white-ball trophies.”
Poysden’s first-team action in 2017 was restricted to just two T20s and three 50-over games as left-armer Sunny Singh got the nod in championship cricket. With those two vying as back-up for new captain Jeetan Patel, the Bears are well-equipped for spin options.
With Jeets being captain now that’s fantastic and it’s great to be able to bounce ideas off those guys. I’ll be keeping in touch with them throughout the winter.
Josh Poysden
“It’s great that we have one of each type of spinner,” Poysden said. “Sunny did really well last season and I have played a lot of cricket with him in the last few years and we work a lot together help each other a lot. With Jeets being captain now that’s fantastic and it’s great to be able to bounce ideas off those guys. I’ll be keeping in touch with them throughout the winter.”
And one other potentially tough challenge awaits Poysden in the coming weeks – some serious Ashes banter.
“I was out here before when we lost 5-0 and I got absolutely nailed the whole time,” he said. “Hopefully, Woakesy and the guys can turn it round so that I can be the one handing it out this time.”
