Winter Watch | Week 11

We're into February now, and cricket returns to Hove next month. As a result, our Winter Watch series nears the close. Yet there remains a few Sharks still claiming wickets and scoring runs across distant waters, and we'll start in Sri Lanka where the T20 World Cup nears its beginning.

Jofra Archer

Perhaps a surprise pick in the World Cup squad following his injury during the Ashes, but to England's benefit nonetheless as Archer heads over to Asia. And it's been a bright start in the warm-up matches against Sri Lanka, with England winning both on the DL. 

Archer's looked in good touch, too, taking two wickets in the second warm-up game after bowling economically in the opener. A strong start, and an exciting tournament ahead for Archer and England with their opening match against Nepal on Sunday, 8th February at 9.30am GMT. The final warm-up with Sri Lanka takes place today, at 1.30pm GMT.

Anna Buckle

Buckle's time in Australia this winter has been long and prosperous, building up a wealth of confidence ahead of a big season with Sussex. Whilst the result went the way of the opposition, Buckle impressed in her nine-over spell, taking a wicket and going for 36 runs. 17 runs with the bat, too, to further embellish the outing against Paramatta at the recent weekend.

Oli Carter

There's a few matches to catch up on for Carter who, following a mini break with Sturt, has since resumed in fine fettle. In three of the four innings, he's recorded scores of 79, 50 and 86 - the latter of which came from just 95 deliveries and featured four sixes. A positive January for the wicket-keeper batter, who returns to Sussex soon in good stead ahead of the season's commencement.

James Coles

No statistics to share, but a gentle reminder of Coles' call-up to the England Lions squad for the forthcoming series against Pakistan Shaheens. The first match will be on Friday, 20 February and conclude on Monday, 9 March. The schedule includes three T20 matches and five 50-over matches.

Brad Currie

With Bangladesh's withdrawal from the World Cup, it opens the door for Currie and his Scotland side as they enter the tournament. They've had a warm-up game, and Currie impressed against Afghanistan, albeit ending in defeat. Figures of 4-0-19-1 puts him in fine stead heading into Saturday's opener with West Indies, but they've one more warm-up to play tomorrow against Namibia before the competition commences. 

Dan Ibrahim

Wintering well in New Zealand, it wasn't to be Ibrahim's finest outing with the bat in both of the outings we're to report on, but he picked up a couple of wickets in his side's five wicket win over Napier Old Boys before taking the lone wicket in defeat to George Thomas' Cornwall a week later.

George Thomas

And coming swiftly onto Thomas, last week's performance was another outstanding showing with bat and ball, blasting 73* from 47 deliveries in a nine-wicket victory over Ibrahim's Central Hawkes Bay. Taking a wicket, too, it's been a similarly excellent stint in New Zealand for Thomas who soon returns to England full of confidence ahead of the fresh campaign.

Alfie Pyle, Jake Vosloo and Liam O'Brien

An experience to remember for our Sussex trio, who have been making history over in India as part of a five-match IT20 series - England Disability's first overseas tour after a successful trial home series this summer.

Three games in, and England have claimed two wins so far, with Pyle, O'Brien and Vosloo all impressing - the latter recently making history by becoming the youngest ever disability cricketer to represent England. He has since become England's youngest ever disability cricketer to take a wicket. 

They're back in action tomorrow, with the final match of the Series taking place on Friday, 6th February. You can keep up to date here.