Winter Watch | Week 4

Your weekly dose of Sharks abroad returns for its fourth instalment, where we continue to get to grips with England’s defeat in the opening Test of the Ashes series. From a Sussex point of view, though, our own Jofra Archer can hold his head high following a ruthless display with the ball, particularly in the first innings. But there’s more than just England, as we provide yet another comprehensive round-up of our player’s movements. We’ll commence with Jof, though…

Jofra Archer

A first Ashes series for the rapid fast-bowler since 2019, it could scarcely have been a better start for Archer after taking the wicket of Jake Weatherald with the second ball of Australia’s innings.

That appeared to set the tone, as he achieved impeccable figures of 9-4-11-2 in the first innings. What followed from an English perspective swiftly went off the rails as the hosts wrapped-up an eight-wicket victory, yet Archer bowled well throughout and will unequivocally play a part in the next Test in Brisbane on 4th December.

Anna Buckle

Our previous report spotlighted Buckle’s brilliance with the bat – something that isn’t typically her forte. This time around and she’s taking wickets again: three, in fact, including both of Sydney’s openers in a tightly-fought six-run defeat. 

Buckle would take three wickets on the day, coming away with outstanding figures of 8-3-18-3 – comfortably the pick of North Sydney’s bowlers. And it’s a second three-wicket haul of the winter as she continues to excel in Australia following a fine season with Sussex.

Oli Carter

A rather brief update for Carter this week, for his scheduled match against East Torrens was abandoned due to rain. He’ll next be in action this weekend, with his Sturt side hosting Prospect in the One Day Cup.

James Coles

Having been a late pick up by UAE Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10, it took a few matches for Coles to break into the side that also houses Phil Salt, James Vince and Kieron Pollard. The young Sussex star may not have scored an ocean of runs in his first Bulls game – recording 12 from 7 deliveries – though it was enough for him to fourth-top-score.

His side play one more game today, which they must win, if they are to stand any chance of qualifying to the latter stages of the tournament. 

Tom Haines

A mixed bag for Haines out in Australia with England Lions in his opening match of the Tour, Sussex’s opening batsman started brightly with a score of 38, before falling for a first-ball duck in the second innings against a strong Cricket Australia XI. 

The hosts would win the match, with Haines and his Lions next in action on 29th November, in a two-day pink ball match versus Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. The action will begin at 3.40am GMT.

Dan Ibrahim

Currently in the midst of a Two Day+ fixture with Napier Tech, Ibrahim’s Central Hawkes Bay outfit are up against it this time around, trailing by 112 runs with eight wickets in hand. In what has been a positive start to life in New Zealand this winter for our Most Improved Player of the Year with a number of good performances with the bat, he’d record 13 runs here in a difficult day for his side’s batters.

This weekend he’ll play a part in trying to defend a draw that is very much against them.

Tymal Mills

Three consecutive victories for Mills' Aspin Stallions puts them in fine stead heading into the next phase of the UAE T10, and the Sussex fast-bowler has been influential in guiding them there. 

Playing a part in every group game thus far, Mills has taken three wickets which is accompanied by a solid economy rate, too. His journey in the UAE will stretch deeper as his side prepare to go all the way.

Jayden Seales

A mere one game to report on here, with Seales’ West Indies completing their final ODI of the series in New Zealand at the weekend.

In a difficult series for the tourists, Seales again bowled well here, taking figures of 8-1-35-2, but it was an uphill task to defend a total of just 161. Up next: the start of the Test Series, with Monday evening (10pm GMT) the start time for the opening day in Christchurch.

John Simpson

For club captain Simpson, his November has been spent in Nepal with Kathmandu Gorkhas as part of the Nepal Premier League. Following the first four matches of the competition, his side sat in third having won two of those fixtures.

In the early hours of this morning Simpson completed his fifth game with Kathmandu, blasting 60 from just 29 balls in a crushing victory over Chitwan Rhinos to advance to the next stages of the competition.

Talitha Stanley

Continuing the theme of taking a wicket in every single match for Perth this winter, the past weekend saw another scalp in a rare defeat for Stanley’s side. 

It takes her wicket total to 12 for the campaign, with Subiaco Floreat the next opposition on the horizon this weekend.

George Thomas

It has been a rather exquisite month or so for Thomas in New Zealand, playing an essential role for Cornwall. Backing up his batting with an immense five-wicket haul in our previous report, things are going rather well this time around in a Two Day+ clash against Taradale.

His side need nine wickets to complete the victory, and already hold a 90-run lead having only batted once. Thomas scored 14 opening the batting, and took the opening wicket of the second innings as they’ll look to wrap up the victory this weekend.