Josh Breed

Josh Breed is an outstanding prospect who was finally rewarded with List A cricket for Western Province following success at Premier level for Claremont alongside a glittering junior career.

A genuine all-rounder, Breed bats in the top-order and is a hugely talented leg-spinner, who comes highly recommended by numerous sources, including his former Wynberg Boys' High School 1st XI Coach Eric Lefson and former English Test player / long-term commentator, Robin Jackman.

The all-rounder made his Wynberg Boys' 1st XI (Jacques Kallis' alma mater) in Grade 9, at 14-years-old, and is one of the most capped (139), and statistically one of the best, players in the school's history. During his tenure, he scored well over 3,000 runs, took over 150 wickets, and averaged 40 plus with the bat in his final two calendar years (2016, 2017). Breed is the only cricketer in the school's history to be recognised with trees planted on the Jacques Kallis Oval for more than 2 centuries (5) and 2 seven-wicket (2) hauls, whilst playing first-team cricket.

Breed represented Western Province at every age-group level, to include Coke Week (U19) in December 2017. In 2017/18, he made his Men's debut for Claremont CC 1st XI and was selected for the Western Province Under-23 Academy. Over the past two seasons, he impressed with both bat and ball under the tutelage of Kent sensation Darren Stevens who acted as the club's Player/Coach. In-fact, last summer Breed was named captain of the Claremont 1st XI, a sign of his undoubted maturity and leadership skills.

A highly motived, supremely gifted, and incredibly driven cricketer, Breed is keen to progress onto higher honours. In view of his development, Breed spent the 2018 season plying his trade in the UK. He excelled, helping Cheltenham to promotion in the Premier 2 (Glos/Wilts) Division of the West of England Premier League. The South African young gun finished the summer as the 6th leading run-scorer across all WEPL divisions - 3rd in the Glos/Wilts comp with 703 runs at 70.30. He also captured 31 wickets at 17.48 - 4th on the division wicket charts. Courtesy of his exploits, he also trained with Gloucestershire, represented their under-19s, and played for the Worcestershire Academy, with success, to include 34-ball 56 in a T20 against Warwickshire U19s.

The South African youngster returned to Northern shores in 2019 and continued his success in the WEPL top tier, hitting 884 runs at 36.83 alongside 30 wickets at 23.97 for Cheltenham. He was also a 2nd XI regular for Worcestershire, playing across all formats and finishing as the Counties second leading wicket-taker in the 2nd XI Championship (alongside a batting average in the mid-30s).

Breed, who holds UKCC level 2 coaching qualifications and UK Ancestry Visa was set for a return to Cheltenham for a third stint in 2020. However, COVID struck, putting pay to his UK return. Josh will in fact signed for WEPL powerhouses Clevedon Cricket Club for the UK 2023 season, the South African impressed with nearly 1000 runs for the 1st team over the season, but due to an injury couldnt bowl.

The all-rounder has now regained his fitness and captained Claremont Cricket Club to the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), and was named in the Team of the Year. The South African was in the top 10 for both batting (719 runs @80) and bowling (52 wickets @ 15), in fact he was the leading wicket taker in the comp.

Josh had signed for Merivale Papanui CC in the Christchurch Metropolitan Cricket Association but due to visa issues, was unable to travel so continues to play in Cape Town for the 2023/24 season.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/1088083.html

https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1962/1962052/1962052.html