Tom Poynton talks to Chris Airey about becoming Derbyshire’s first-choice wicketkeeper and the club’s County Championship promotion prospects in 2012.
Derbyshire’s policy of developing homegrown talent is clear for all to see with gifted youngsters such as Ross Whiteley, Dan Redfern, Chesney Hughes and Paul Borrington all having been given opportunities to impress on the first-class stage over the last few seasons.
Now, after the recent retirement of former captain Luke Sutton, who called an end to his 14-year professional career in December, the club have turned to another youthful tyro to take over the gloves and he already has a message for County Championship promotion rivals in Division Two: “Don’t count us out”.
22-year-old Tom Poynton enjoyed a prolific season with Derbyshire 2nd XI in 2011 and is now preparing to step up into the senior side after head coach Karl Krikken (a former stumper himself) announced that the local lad will be first-choice gloveman in all forms of the game in 2012.
“It will be a big challenge but I am looking forward it,” said Poynton. “I have been in and out of the side now for a few years but now is my chance to show what I can do and establish myself as the number one keeper. I had a good developmental year in 2011. I wanted to get some big hundreds and I wanted to push on and perform well in the one-day games we had at the end of the year, which I did, so I was pleased with my season.
“Keepers are determined really by how many runs they score and so far my keeping has been my strong point and my batting has played second fiddle. But I’m happy with how my batting has come along over the past few years and I am confident that I contribute more with the bat next season.”
Having been part of the Derbyshire set-up throughout his cricketing career, Poynton grew up watching Krikken behind the stumps and says his coach has heavily influenced his game. “I grew up with Karl Krikken as my mentor all the way back to when I was 10-years-old, so I have to say I have a bit of Krik in me, definitely. I haven’t got as many of the mannerisms he had, I am not quite in your face but I am quite chirpy – I like to let the batsman know I’m there. As a keeper I hope to bring more energy to the team and motivate the lads. I’ll probably bat in the lower-order, but we are likely to have a long batting order this year and I will support the guys at the end of the innings and hopefully we can produce some big partnerships.”
The Derbyshire squad have returned to the club after enjoying a three-week break over the Christmas period and Poynton says the hard work has already begun, with the side confident of challenging in all competitions in 2012. “The lads are training hard and we have come back in surprisingly good shape. It is the hardest pre-season I’ve been involved in but we are eating well and really attacking the training hard. There is a massive potential and talent within the team and it will just be a matter of consistency next year.
“We’ve got some great old heads but the core nucleus of the side will be young and it’s time for us to stand up and be counted. Promotion is a real possibility; you never know with a young side and I think we have a good chance. Don’t count us out of anything. That’s what I would say to everyone at the minute.”
Click here to read Chris Airey’s interview with Derbyshire allrounder Ross Whiteley
