CricX are excited to announce East Christchurch-Shirley Cricket Club’s signing of Josh Smith & Robert Wilks-McLeod for their 2023/24 campaign.
Josh is a genuine allrounder who can win games batting, wicket keeping, or more recently in the field bowling leg spin as well. He currently plays for Wiltshire CCC 2nd XI, Wiltshire U21s, and for Chippenham CC in the West of England Premier League (WEPL Premier 1).
Josh is no stranger to winning and being a part of team’s successful campaigns. Whilst playing for Chippenham CC, he has won the WEPL Premier 2 League Title in 2019, the Wiltshire T20 Wallop Cup in 2022, and was part of the club’s highest ever finish of 5th in the WEPL Premier 1 League in 2022. WEPL Premier 1 is known as being one of the toughest ECB Premier Leagues in the country as it is the pinnacle of the WEPL Pyramid system, which spans across three counties: Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset. The league being situated between three professional county sides (Somerset, Glamorgan and Gloucestershire) also means that there is a vast array of professional players playing every week. Josh playing and developing in this environment at the age of just 20 means he is a player to take note of, and shows how highly people consider him at his current club. During his club career, he has hit 12 fifties and 5 hundreds, taken 121 fielding dismissals and 54 wickets, showing his all-round ability.
Josh has also been in the Wiltshire County setup since Under 14s and now regularly plays for the U21s and 2nd XI in all three formats (2 day, 50 over & T20). He has now played 60 games for the County, scoring over 1000 runs and taking 41 fielding dismissals to date.
It is also important to note Josh’s high-level understanding of the game. He regularly captained age group sides when growing up, but this year was also selected to captain Chippenham CC’s T20 Cup side and the club see him as being the next 1st XI captain – more evidence of how intelligent and able Josh is.
Rob Wilks-McLeod is an up and coming Right Arm Fast bowler that has a bright future ahead of him. He currently plays his club cricket for Chippenham CC in the Wiltshire County League Division 1, and has had a breakthrough 2023 season, earning selection for Wiltshire CCC U18s and Gloucestershire CCC U18s.
Standing at 6ft 3in tall and having the ability to bowl very fast from a good height, means Rob is effective with the new ball and at the death of an innings. He is strong and maintains a high level of physical fitness through his love of the gym and running.
Rob’s cricket has developed at an unusually fast rate since only taking a proper interest in the sport in 2019. In 2022 he played a key part in Chippenham CC’s winning campaign of the Wiltshire T20 Wallop Cup and finished top wicket-taker for the club’s 2nd XI. Rob has since played a handful of 1st XI games and arguably should have played more, however he is competing with current contracted professional seam bowlers who play in the club’s 1st XI. During the 2022 season Rob finished with a total of 41 wickets at an average of 26.22 and has continued to impress this year with 19 wickets at an average of 24.95; an impressive total to date especially when considering the poor weather that has occurred across England this summer.
His successes in club cricket last year led him to be selected to train with the Wiltshire CCC 1st team squad in their winter programme, and to his regular selection for Wiltshire CCC U18s this year. In a fixture against Gloucestershire CCC, he recorded figures of 8.2 overs 2 for 42 and Gloucestershire CCC coaches were so impressed with his performance and potential, that they approached Rob about representing Gloucestershire CCC U18s. The following week, Rob recorded figures of 9 overs 2 maidens 1 for 39 along with 1 catch on debut for Gloucestershire U18s vs Somerset U18s in a 2 day game.
