Poppy-Jay Watkins – Hampshire County Cricket Club - Development Programme

Hampshire CCC has a talented young girl cricketer in its U 11 Development Group with her sights on playing for England Ladies Cricket Team.

Poppy-Jay Watkins is just eleven years old. She started in cricket by accident when she was aged 6. She had asked her school friend over for a play date, but her friend was going to cricket training with her dad Darren Flint, an ex-Hampshire cricketer. Darren a left arm spin bowler, now coaching Hampshire spin bowlers, was running cricket training sessions for boys under 9. He invited Poppy-Jay to join his daughter and the boys for the evenings training session. Poppy-Jay went, joined in and absolutely loved it. She won player of the night award, went back the next week and won the award again. From then on she was a cricket convert and fully hooked.

Poppy-Jay joined Hedge End Cricket club and played for the under 12 Girls team despite being only 7 years old. The girl’s team folded due to lack of numbers, but she joined Fair Oak girls team and played in their under 12 and under 15 teams, playing hard ball cricket at 8 years old.

Still only 8 years old Poppy-Jay trialled for the Winchester District Girls under 12 squad and was selected. She is now in her 3rd season playing for the District team and is team captain. Poppy-Jay has now trialled successfully for the Hampshire CCC under 11 development squad and plays regularly.

Poppy-Jay is an all-rounder. She is a left arm seam bowler, right handed bat and a strong fielder. Last season she was a wicket keeper but decided to concentrate on her bowling.

For the last 2 seasons Poppy-Jay has predominately played for Fair Oak Boys under 11 team and is a key player for them! Poppy-Jay said ‘Girls can do the same things as boys. Sometimes playing with boys they think I am not going to be any good. So I think “watch out”. They soon realise I am a big hitter and a fast accurate bowler that’s hard to hit!’

She attended a Kevin Pietersen batting master-class (pictured below) at the Ageas Bowl in February. Poppy-Jay was thrilled to meet Kevin Pietersen and recalled ‘Kevin told me to always persevere and keep trying, especially when things are not going well in a game. He has done in cricket what I would like to do. Talking to him was inspirational’

Poppy-Jay WatkinsPoppy-Jay has also been to a batting masterclass by Charlotte Edwards, the England Ladies Captain. Charlotte is Poppy-Jay’s hero, even above KP. Charlotte and Poppy-Jay are pictured together below. Talking to me about the help she got from Charlotte, Poppy-Jay said ‘She says she stays strong. Girls can do the same as boys. Team captains are selected because they have the best cricket sense’ Poppy-Jay with England Ladies Captain Charlotte Edwards

Poppy-Jay is continuing to improve in the girl’s pathway to the Hampshire CCC U13 and U15 Age Groups. Beyond lays the crucial step-up to the England Women’s Development Programme U15 Group. I asked Poppy-Jay how she felt about getting into the ladies England Development set-up. She said ‘Since joining the District and Hampshire squads I have been getting lots of good coaching. It’s helping me improve things I used to find hard to do. If I keep getting better I might be able to get into the England Women’s Under 15’s.’

On the future, Poppy-Jay said ‘It’s not easy for girls. Girls do not get as many chances as boys. Anyway my hero is Charlotte Edwards and I like Heather Knight and Lydia Greenway in theEngland women’s cricket team.’

Poppy-Jay was also a keen and active member of Hayling Island Sailing. Her grandfather Keith Garner, himself a Sailing National Champion, is still a member of HISC and Poppy-Jay enjoys visiting the club with her parents Alison and Simon and her grandfather when she has any spare time.

Poppy-Jay and Kevin Pietersen

By
Tim Randall
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