At 23, Sussex-born Joe Pocklington isn’t the kind of cricketer who was handed a pro deal on pedigree. His journey, which took him from Farsley to Nottinghamshire, ran through long, honest club graft — cold nets in Leeds, Saturday grinds in the Bradford League, and a bold decision that changed his career: to open the batting.
“I’d been batting at six, playing the same role every week — hit a few at the end, bowl some spin,” he says. “Then I realised, if I want to get noticed, I need to face the new ball.”
That call — to tell his Farsley captain Ben Wright he was opening — reset everything. New challenges, new pace, and new exposure. “You suddenly learn what 50 overs really means,” he says. “It’s not about slogging 30 off 20 anymore. You’re trying to build something.”
From Sussex to Leeds: Finding the Right League
Pocklington grew up on the south coast, but it was a move north for university that changed his cricketing environment. “In the Bradford League, every week you face a pro or a county lad coming back. It’s the standard of the opposition that forces you to level up.”
He joined Farsley CC, a club with a rich history and a reputation for getting the most from young talent. “They backed me to open. That’s where I learned to build innings, to fight through spells, to trust my game.”
That kind of week-in, week-out intensity, he says, makes Premier League cricket England’s truest shop window. “It’s not all pretty surfaces and throwdowns. You learn from winning ugly.”
The Aussie Grade Education
Last winter, he swapped winter drizzle for Sydney sunshine — playing for Gordon Cricket Club in NSW Premier Cricket. The lessons were instant.
“You can’t fake it over there,” he laughs. “You’re playing 40-degree days against blokes who’ve done it for a decade. It taught me to stay in contests. No freebies, no excuses.”
He came home sharper — physically fitter, technically tighter, and mentally lighter. “A good week in Sydney is bat, bowl, field, recover, repeat. It’s simple but relentless. You realise how much repetition matters.”
Second-Team Reality
Opportunities with Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire followed. But second‑team cricket, Pocklington admits, can be tough to navigate. “You’re often playing a role that isn’t your club role — maybe bowling more, batting lower, just trying to fit in. You have to find ways to show your true game even in small chances.”
His breakthrough came in the 2025 Metro Bank One Day Cup, where he played with freedom and confidence. “That competition matters — it’s where counties can test players from outside the system. For me, it was proof that Premier League players can make the jump.”
The exposure led to a two-year contract at Trent Bridge. “Notts were brilliant. They didn’t just look at numbers — they looked at intent, at how I trained, how I handled games. That makes you want to give even more.”
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Why NCCA Still Matters
Pocklington has played for Lincolnshire in the NCCA in recent years and is adamant that the National Counties Cricket Association remains vital to the pathway. “NCCA gives players a proper stage. You’re up against quality, it’s competitive, and counties do watch. Without that layer, you lose a bridge.”
He’s quick to praise the coaches who kept him grounded through the process. “Ant Botha’s been huge for me — he talks cricket like a human being. Not jargon, just clarity. Eddie Burke’s another one — he lets you find your rhythm without forcing it.”
It’s a reminder that coaching connection is as important as content. “You can have all the data in the world, but if it doesn’t land, it’s noise.”
Bradford Steel vs Sussex Depth
Asked to compare the two leagues that shaped him — the Sussex Premier League and the Bradford League — he pauses. “Sussex has great depth; anyone can beat anyone. But Bradford’s top-end quality is unreal. Every week you face a pro-quality bowler or batter. It’s hard, and that’s why it prepares you.”
He still keeps an eye on both, crediting them as equally vital in English club cricket’s ecosystem. “Different challenges, same goal — to make players better. You don’t need a contract to play serious cricket.”
Eyes Forward: The 2026 Ambition
As he looks ahead, Pocklington’s targets are simple: perform in all three formats and earn his Notts spurs. “It’s not about getting a deal; it’s about staying in. I want to be useful across formats — bat, bowl, field — whatever the team needs.”
He’s realistic but optimistic. “I know what got me here — long days, no shortcuts. You just keep stacking good weeks.”
And for young players grinding away in the Premier Leagues, his message is straightforward: “Move up the order or stay invisible. Don’t wait for someone to tell you you’re ready. Put yourself where you can fail — that’s where you get seen.”
