Winter Watch | Week 12

The T20 World Cup is in full swing and Sussex's representatives have already played a key part. Elsewhere, Anna Buckle continues to shine and there are more runs and wickets in New Zealand for Dan Ibrahim and George Thomas. It's the 12th edition of this Winter Watch series, and we'll start with a nailbiter for Jofra Archer and England in Mumbai.

Jofra Archer

England's T20 campaign commenced with a tense finale as Nepal came up just short against 2022 champions. Archer played a very small role with the bat, making just 1 from 3 deliveries, before bowling rather well up until his final over with the ball. Going for three sixes in a row in the penultimate over, Nepal required just 10 to win from the final six deliveries, where Sam Curran sealed the victory with some excellent death bowling.

Archer did claim a wicket in the match as England just about scraped victory in the tournament's opener. Up next: West Indies. With this fixture taking place on Wednesday at 13.30 GMT.

Anna Buckle

For Buckle her winter continues to reach new heights with yet another stellar outing with the ball, albeit in heavy defeat at the hands of Greater Hunter Coast.

Having been skittled rather cheaply, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Buckle and her bowling cohort, yet the Sussex seamer gave yet another excellent account of herself, taking one wicket from her six over spell whilst yielding just 15 runs.

Oli Carter

Following the recent highs with the bat, this past weekend's performance wasn't quite up to the same standard as Carter and his Sturt side struggled for runs in defeat to Port Adelaide. They could only muster 74 in the opening innings, but things improved shortly after when they made 199 in the second innings. Still, it wasn't quite to be for Carter and co. this past weekend.

Brad Currie

Well, now. Two outings to report on here, and two outings of pure merit for Currie whose Scotland side have a win and loss to their name already in the T20 World Cup. Defeat to West Indies was perhaps the probable outcome, yet Scotland performed valiantly and Currie was outstanding, claiming figures of: 4-0-23-2.

Fast forward to this morning, and Currie would claim another wicket. This time, Scotland were victorious: a smashing 73-run success over Italy. What's more impressive, still, is that after six overs bowled in this tournament, Currie's economy rate is still below 6.

Dan Ibrahim

On the losing side this time around for Central Hawkes Bay, but Ibrahim has proved to be one of the most consistent bats in the line-up and here there was more quality on display. Top scoring with 72, he helped his side to a competitive total of 211, though it was chased down with five overs to spare. Ibrahim also took a wicket, and bowled economically from his eight over spell.

George Thomas

A crunching 230-run win at the weekend for Thomas' Cornwall, you'd half expected the Sussex man to have played a leading role in the victory after the winter he has had, but for a change it was his teammates who had to do the bulk of the work. Even with the ball he didn't get an opportunity, though his talents were not required here as they cruised to a comfortable win.

Alfie Pyle, Jake Vosloo and Liam O'Brien

Push the World Cup aside for a moment, for history was made in India just last week as England Disability travelled for their first overseas tour. And what a success it was as Sussex trio Alfie Pyle, Jake Vosloo and Liam O'Brien played a pivotal role in steering England to a 4-1 series win over their hosts.

In the five IT20 matches, all three played in every match. Pyle took four wickets, bowled beautifully, and was a key outlet with the ball throughout. Jake Vosloo made history in the opening match when he became the youngest ever disability cricketer to represent England - a quite wonderful feat. He took two wickets in the series, bowling similarly expertly at a consistent level. 

And Liam O'Brien was perhaps the standout player in the series, scoring 248 runs at an average of just below 50. He hit four half centuries, and even took two wickets in his one spell with the ball. All in all, an outstanding showing from the entire England Disability side, who return with heads held high.