Winter Watch | Week 8

Well, it's been a while. Christmas is but a hazy memory now as the days get longer while the wait for county cricket feels all the more shorter. Meanwhile, in distant destinations somewhat warmer than our own country, cricket is still being played and there's updates to report on! Ashes, BBL, SA20; this article begins in Brisbane.

Tom Alsop

Featuring twice for Brisbane Heat having commenced the BBL campaign with an injury, Alsop wasn't quite able to get into his rhythm with his two stints at the crease culminating in 15 runs. 

He'll be hoping for another opportunity as the race for qualification intensifies with Brisbane placed in fifth position, eying a spot in the latter stages of the competition with three fixtures remaining.

Jofra Archer

There can be few denying the irrepressible impact Archer had on this Ashes series: a shining light in a torrid and tumultuous opening three Tests for England. 

There's not too much to catch up on, though. For as the minutes ticked toward the Fourth Test in Melbourne, Archer was out of the Ashes. His finest outing arrived in Adelaide, where he'd take six wickets in the match, featuring figures of 5/53 and a laudable knock of 51 with the bat.

Finishing with nine wickets and 102 runs in the series at an average of 27.11 and 25.50 with ball and bat respectively, it's been a pleasure to see Archer return to the Test side this winter with him recently named in England's T20 World Cup squad for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka in February and March.

Anna Buckle

It's just the one game to catch up on, too, for Buckle out in the warmer climates of New South Wales with UTS North Sydney as she enjoys a well-earned break having excelled in Australia this winter.

And it was yet another straightforward victory for UTS North Sydney to lead them into the festive pause, earning a 66-run win over Northern District. The Sussex seamer picked up two wickets here from her four-over spell, going for a mere 12 runs in what has become a bit of a trend for Buckle over the past couple of months.

James Coles

Yet to feature for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in this year's SA20, there is still time for Coles to make his mark on the tournament with plenty of games to come. 

But his side have started proceedings in fine form as they sit third four games in, with their fifth fixture currently underway against Tymal Mills' Pretoria Capitals.

Daniel Hughes

The Sussex opening batter has enjoyed his time at the crease in the BBL for Sydney Sixers at the top of the order since our previous update, with quickfire knocks of 25, 60 and 30. It's helped them move up to fourth in the eight-team table with only a few group stage matches ahead.

It's good stuff from Hughes, and even more so when you learn that he has scored 10 runs more this tournament than his opening batting partner, Babar Azam...

Nathan McAndrew

With one win from Sydney Thunder's opening six BBL matches it was unlikely that McAndrew would be in possession of outstanding figures at this stage of the competition, but he has ultimately bowled well and taken key wickets at reasonably regular intervals.

His services with the bat have scarcely been required thus far, but his side will need to turn a corner swiftly if they are to stand any chance of qualification.

Tymal Mills

More miles in the tank for Mills as he headed down to South Africa for the start of the SA20, and he's played a pivotal part in the Pretoria Capitals bowling attack so far, claiming five wickets from his three matches at an average of 15. 

His economy rate has been good, too, at 7.25 with Pretoria's previous match abandoned without a ball bowled. They're back in action at the time of this being published, with Mills in the XI once again.