Winter Watch | Week 5

Runs, wickets, catches, five-fers and half-centuries: that's the recipe for Week 5 of our Winter Watch series. News from Australia, New Zealand, Abu Dhabi and Dubai - it's time for your comprehensive round-up of Sharks abroad. 

Tom Alsop

Landing back in Brisbane ahead of another Big Bash League (BBL) stint with Brisbane Heat, Alsop's team will commence the competition later this month, on 15 December at Melbourne Renegades. The 30-year-old will be looking to build on last year's stint having featured in four matches for Johan Botha's side - scoring 100 runs in the process.

Jofra Archer

With his 120th delivery of the day blocked away confidently by Michael Neser, one of a few Australian's to be dropped in the field on a testing day for England, the hosts moved into a 44-run lead at the Close on the second day of the second Test.

A day of toil and graft for England's bowlers in the Brisbane Heat, with Archer stepping off the turf with figures of 20-2-74-1. The evening prior, Archer was explosive with the bat alongside Joe Root - putting on a record 10th wicket partnership for England in Australia. He struck a quickfire 38 - featuring two sixes - in a 70-run partnership.

Anna Buckle

Having exhausted pretty much every superlative in the dictionary regarding Buckle's spell in Australia, the past weekend shone the light on another prominent performance on our bowler and her side in a nine-wicket win over Penrith.

Buckle claimed her obligatory wicket, earning figures of 4-0-12-1. Standard.

Oli Carter

Following a string of solid showings with the bat at his club of Sturt in the suburb of Adelaide, his side suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Tea Tree Gully - losing by 62 runs. 

James Coles

Another accolade in a year that continues to get better for Coles, the all-rounder can add Abu Dhabi T10 champion to his CV after his UAE Bulls side romped to victory over Tymal Mills' Aspin Stallions in the final.

Coles featured twice in the competition: once in the group stage, and once in their eliminator with Ajman Titans. Next, he'll be heading down to South Africa for the SA20, where he'll join up with his Sunrisers Eastern Cape teammates. The opening match will be on 27 December.

Tom Haines

77 runs, two wickets and a sparkling catch: that would be the script for Haines in his second match with England Lions on this current Tour of Australia in what proved to be a profitable two days for the Sussex opener. 

And then, overnight, the Lions captain opened once more against Australia A, top scoring in what proved to be a fairly low score for the tourists. Haines' 64-ball spell yielded 31 runs, including seven boundaries. At the Close, the hosts muscled their way to 155-2, leading by 11 runs.

Daniel Hughes

It's been a rather good week for Hughes who, having notched his highest score of the winter in a six-wicket win for Eastern Suburbs, also got engaged to his partner. 

This was a familiar matchup Down Under, for he was facing teammate Ollie Robinson as Hughes scored a rather swift half-century against Sydney University attack - recording eight fours and one six.

Dan Ibrahim

An excellent New Zealand winter for Ibrahim hit slightly tempestuous storms with defeat at Napier Tech. Scoring 13 and 18 respectively in both innings, it was a similar story for his fellow batters as they mustered a total of 304 runs across the match.

Nathan McAndrew

Back in South Australia's Sheffield Shield side for their fixture with Tasmania, and back amongst the wickets. At Stumps on Day 1, South Australia skittled the hosts out for 195, and are currently 116/3 heading into the second day. McAndrew took two wickets, and ended the day with commendable figures of 15-4-31-2.

Tymal Mills

Excruciatingly close to Abu Dhabi T10 glory with Aspin Stallions, Mills' side would taste defeat in the final to James Coles' UAE Bulls. The fast bowler, much like the majority of the tournament, bowled superbly, going for a mere 12 runs from his two overs bowled.

As economy rates go Mills came away with one of the best, playing a pivotal role in his side's success. He's made the short journey over to Dubai to play in the ILT20 with Dubai Capitals. His first game is on Saturday, as they face a Gulf Giants side housing Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson and James Vince.

Ollie Robinson

The aforementioned Robinson vs Hughes now focuses on the former, with Robinson back playing for Sydney University. He took a wicket, too, from his 10-over spell, but it was with the bat in hand where things were a little more explosive. 

44 from just 33 deliveries, featuring three sixes and two fours, is another in the vintage Robinson cameos folder. Despite scoring roughly a fifth of his side's total runs, it proved to not be enough as Hughes' Eastern Suburbs thundered to a six-wicket win in the Belvedere Cup (50 overs).

Jayden Seales

It's Test time for Seales, who has been a perennial thorn in New Zealand's batting line-up in the build-up, taking a smattering of wickets in the previous T20s and ODIs.

New Zealand are closing in on wrapping-up the opening Test, but Seales was not without his wickets as he claimed two in the first innings, and one in the second innings with his side requiring 319 runs to win with 6 wickets remaining.

Talitha Stanley

Yet another weekend with a wicket for Stanley, though it would culminate in a rare defeat for her Perth side as Midland-Guildford escaped with a narrow, final over victory.

Removing opener Ruby York for a duck with the second ball of the match, Stanley continued to keep ameliorate the run rate, but her opponent's managed to just creep over the line in a thrilling affair.

George Thomas

Finishing on a high, with a solid second innings total of 41 for Thomas, a remarkable six-wicket haul and a win over Taradale to complete this week's Winter Watch.

Improving on his score of 14 in the opening innings, Thomas also bowled well: leaving with figures of 6-2-13-0. But, just like his batting performance, his outing with the ball was greatly improved second time around. Here, he'd take six wickets, finishing with utterly regal figures of 12-2-40-6. A good time in New Zealand for Thomas just got better, as he continues to develop at speed ahead of a potentially big season for him at Sussex.