The County season may be over, but a number of our players are playing cricket this winter for clubs, franchises and even countries around the world to keep themselves in shape and in top form for next season. Here’s a brief roundup of how some of them are getting on so far:
AUSTRALIA
Opening batsman Nick Selman continues to plunder runs down under for University of NSW Cricket Club.
He started in fine form with 97 on debut against Parramatta, before smashing 68 off 59 balls against Illawarra in the Kingsgrove Sports Twenty20 Cup.
Selman then registered a century versus Hawkesbury and followed that up two weeks later with 101 against North Sydney.
In total, across First Grade and T20 matches he has hit over 500 runs in just eight innings for his team at an average over 60.
Young guns Jeremy Lawlor and Jack Murphy are also in Australia and both playing for Hampton Cricket Club in Victoria. The pair have made a solid start for their Club and both have scored fifties so far.
SOUTH AFRICA
Two of our players are currently in action in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge in South Africa.
Despite a slow start to his campaign Colin Ingram struck form last week, smashing 89 off 48 balls as he helped his side, the Warriors chase down 183 to beat the Lions by six wickets at Newlands.
He followed that up with 38 just a few days later, however, it wasn’t enough as Hashim Amla’s second 50 of the tournament and 27th of his career helped the WSB Cape Cobras to a 10-run victory.
Marchant de Lange has been playing for the Knights in Bloemfontein and has taken five wickets in his four opening matches. He also made his mark with the bat when he hit the winning runs against Colin Ingram’s Warriors in the 12th match of the competition to get one over on his new white-ball captain.
DUBAI
Fast bowler Timm van der Gugten played yesterday for Netherlands against Namibia in the ICC World Cricket League Championship at Dubai and although he didn’t take a wicket, his side won comfortably by eight wickets.
NEW ZEALAND
All-rounder Andrew Salter, who flew to New Zealand on a ECB overseas placement, where he is now benefitting from the tutelage of Jeetan Patel is playing for Johnsonville Cricket Club near Wellington who compete for the Ewen Chatfield Trophy.
In eight matches so far, he has scored 268 runs at an average of 54, with a top score of 86 not out and taken 13 wickets at just 15.