With the Big Bash well under way, Shekhar Mathur has a look at how the sizeable cohort of English players are faring so far in the Australian T20 competition.

Danny Briggs – Adelaide Strikers

Seven matches: 5 wickets @ 27.60, ER – 7.73 | 45 runs @ 45, SR – 160.71
BBI – 3-20, HS – 35*

The 29-year old left-arm spinner has enjoyed some success in this year’s Big Bash, maintaining a miserly economy rate of 7.73 – impressive numbers, especially for a spinner in T20 cricket. He scored an impressive 35* off just 18 balls in a losing cause against the Hobart Hurricanes, but he also holds the unfortunate record of being one of the first two players to fall victim to the new X-Factor rule, being replaced by Matthew Short against the same opposition just two days later.

Phil Salt – Adelaide Strikers

Seven matches: 123 runs @ 17.75, SR – 135.16
HS – 51

Salt has had a rather humbling time for the Strikers compared to the brutish batting we often associate with him, registering double figures in just three of his seven innings so far. That said, Salt was instrumental in Adelaide’s 71-run victory against the Scorchers just before the turn of the new year, mustering up a hefty 51 off 31 deliveries.

Joe Denly – Brisbane Heat

Two matches: 69 runs @ 34.50, SR 130.18
HS – 50

Denly only arrived in the new year, and as such only been able to play in 2 games thus far. He has walked straight into the Heat’s top order and scored 69 runs from his first two outings, most notably 50 off 36 deliveries against the Thunder today, which helped them win with five balls remaining.

Lewis Gregory – Brisbane Heat

Four matches: 5 wickets @ 26.60, ER – 9.50 | 61 runs @ 20.33, SR – 127.08
BBI – 3-22, HS – 31*

In the four matches he’s played, Gregory has showed glimpses of precisely why he was given an England T20I call-up in 2019. The all-rounder wasted no time in making an impact on the Big Bash, hitting the ground running with a player of the match performance, taking 3-22 against the Hurricanes in his first game, which included the prized wicket of England team-mate and World No. 1 T20I batsman Dawid Malan. He has also showed that he is more than capable with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 31 off 16 in Brisbane’s chase of 165 against the Sixers.

Dawid Malan – Hobart Hurricanes

Four matches: 155 runs @ 38.75, SR 123.01
HS – 75

The World No. 1 ranked T20I batsman has demonstrated his prowess in the format by scoring 155 runs at an average of 38.75 in his four innings so far. Off the back of a Player of the Series performance against South Africa in late 2020, the Yorkshire batsman’s top score came against Melbourne Stars a few days ago, a beautifully crafted 75 off 56, a knock that included 7 fours and 3 sixes.

Will Jacks – Hobart Hurricanes

Four matches: 44 runs @ 11.00, SR – 122.22 | 0 wickets, ER – 8.67
HS – 34

After being named the PCA’s T20 Blast MVP for 2020, a lot was expected of the 22-year old all-rounder. He has not been able to live up to the expectation so far, scoring only 44 runs at an average of just 11, and going wicketless across his two spells, Jacks has been unable to retain his place in the Hurricanes side since 19 December.

Benny Howell – Melbourne Renegades

Two matches: 0 wickets, ER – 7.20

Opportunities have come few and far between for Gloucestershire’s all-rounder. The 32-year old has only played twice, going both runless and wicketless against the Scorchers and Sixers back in mid-December. With the Renegades sitting rock bottom and way off the pace, Howell may have a few more chances to show exactly what he can do later in the competition.

Jason Roy – Perth Scorchers

Three matches: 97 runs @ 32.33, SR – 129.33
HS – 49

One of three English players to turn out for the Scorchers, Roy has had a decent start to his Big Bash campaign, following his quarantine period. He is yet to set the competition alight, but has registered scores of 21, 49 and 27, striking at 129.33 and with an average of 32.33.

Liam Livingstone – Perth Scorchers

Three matches: 50 runs @ 16.66, SR – 92.59 | 1 wicket @ 13.00, ER – 13.00
HS – 22, BBI – 1-13

Livingstone has had a tricky few months, spending much of the year in various bio-secure bubbles with England but without getting onto the field. This lack of game time has been reflected in his performances for Perth, scoring just 50 runs at 16.66 and a strike-rate of 92.59.

Joe Clarke – Perth Scorchers

Three matches: 44 runs @ 14.66, SR – 183.33
HS – 34

The 24-year old Notts batsman has not had the best of times in this season’s tournament, scoring just 44 runs at an average of 14.66. He hasn’t managed to get a game since his duck against the Thunder on 22 December, but his strike rate of 183.33 does bode well.

James Vince – Sydney Sixers

Seven matches: 181 runs @ 30.16, SR – 127.46
HS – 67

The talented top-order batsman started his campaign very strongly, amassing 67 off 41 deliveries in the competition’s opening fixture, which included eight fours and two sixes. He has scored a total of 181 runs in 7 innings, averaging 30.16 with a strike rate of 127.46. Most recently, his unbeaten knock of 45 of 33 deliveries against the Strikers yesterday was integral to the Sixers’ successful chase of 150 against the Strikers.

Alex Hales – Sydney Thunder

Seven matches: 243 runs @ 34.71, SR – 176.08
HS – 71

Having not played for England since March 2019, Hales has used this season’s Big Bash to show selectors exactly what they’re missing out on. Having scored 243 runs at 34.71, with an impressive strike rate of 176.08, he is thus far the most successful Englishman in the tournament, currently the highest-scoring overseas player. His most impressive knock came in a Player of the Match performance against Melbourne Stars on 29 December: 71 off 29 deliveries with a strike rate of 244.83 dragged his side to 219-7 off their 20 overs.

Sam Billings – Sydney Thunder

Three matches: 38 runs @ 19.00, SR – 118.75
HS – 22

After arriving in Australia at the end of December, the 29-year old wicketkeeper-batsman is yet to make a significant contribution for the Thunder in his three matches. He has scored 38 runs at an average of 19.00, as well as effecting one catch and stumping respectively.

Dan Lawrence – Brisbane Heat

Four matches: 41 runs @ 10.25, SR – 93.18 | No wickets, ER – 8.66
HS – 20

A disappointing campaign for Lawrence who leaves the tournament early to join England’s Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Jake Ball – Sydney Sixers

One match: 1 wicket, ER – 10.50

BBI: 1-42

A late replacement for Tom Curran who opted out of the tournament in late 2020, Ball has had just the solitary outing so far.