Everywhere man Josh Doyle finds his home base at Kensington
He’s taken his cricket talents to four states but a rising star already has left his mark on his local SA club with a premiership in his first season and a chance for another this year
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Sydney, Hobart, Darwin, Adelaide – Kensington cricketer Josh Doyle is loving the journey his sport has taken him.
But at the age of 22 Doyle just may have found his long-term cricket home in Kensington with a debut season in 2018/19 which netted both the One Day Cup and two-day premiership.
This season Doyle has chalked up some handy scores, mainly batting at number three or four, with his recent 99 against Woodville his highest so far.
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Originally from the Central Coast, north of Sydney, Doyle played a bit of lower grade cricket before moving on, striving to better himself and play as high a level as he could.
In 2017/18 he joined the New Town Cricket Club in Hobart. But his Kensington link started in Darwin where he played with current teammate John Dalton who suggested the young talent head south.
“I was playing with John (Dalton) in the (TIO) Strike League in Darwin and he hinted that I should come down and play with Kensington,” Doyle said.
“I am always trying to better myself and play at the best level I can and that is mainly why I have moved around a bit so I thought I would give it a go.
“I was lucky enough to be picked in the Emerging Redbacks Squad where it has been good to get a taste of that level cricket. Kensington is a great club, there’s plenty of history with a great bunch of blokes to learn off.
“Guys like Browny (Jake), and Alex Ross and others have been really good with their experience.’’
Doyle, of Brooklyn Park, who plays in Darwin during the Adelaide winter, is making his mark in the SA Cricket Association A-grade competition.
In 2018/19, his first season with the Browns, he scored 59 in the team’s grand final win against Adelaide. This season he played a big part in helping his side make the semi-final of the One Day Cup competition, making 47 in the side’s loss to Adelaide University.
His near-miss century was frustrating but didn’t worry him.
“It would have been nice to get the ton but I was happy with the runs I made for the team,” Doyle said.
“I am definitely happy to contribute. For the time being I will have a break after this season is finished and head home and then get ready for the next pre-season with Kensington.’’
Workwise he can’t get enough of seeing club icon Jake Brown – the pair working as curators, usually at Kensington’s ground and rival Sturt’s Price Memorial Oval.
Bridget Patterson, who plays for the (SA) Scorpions, Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL and Kensington, also is a full-time curator and gives Brown and Doyle a hand when she is free.
THE CRICKET WAREHOUSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MITCH THOMAS (Northern Districts)
Chalking up his first A-grade century, opening batsman Thomas dominated with 131 balls
off 207 balls with 13 boundaries.
($100 Cricket Warehouse voucher)
CHAMPION PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Runs 1pt -Wickets 20pts
Ben Pengelley (Adel) 1103
Cam Valente (Adel) 1033
Will Bosisto (Uni) 963
Sam Kerber (Uni) 846
Patrick Page (Adel) 702
Michael Cranmer (ET) 676
Mark Cosgrove (ND) 627
($2000 Kookaburra kit for men’s player of the season)