As we move into a new year, here’s a selection of uncapped English cricketers, at varying stages of their careers, who are worth keeping an especially close eye on in 2021.
Tom Lammonby (Somerset)
Tom Lammonby is one of the few people who can justifiably call 2020 one of the best years of their lives. A relatively unknown England U19 graduate at the start of the year, Lammonby was the breakthrough player of the Bob Willis Trophy. The third leading run-scorer in the competition, his century against Worcestershire in the group stage was pivotal in Somerset reaching the final, where he then scored another delightful second innings hundred, this time at the Home of Cricket. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley are both fairly established at the top of the England Test order but six Tests in Asia, a home series against India and an away Ashes tour could change that. If one or both falter, another run-filled year would place Lammonby as one of the more likely candidates to replace them.
Matt Milnes (Kent)
The leading English wicket-taker in Division One of the 2019 County Championship, Matt Milnes continued his fine form in 2020 as part of an increasingly impressive Kent side. On England’s radar but with so many quicks in front of him in the queue, it’s hard to envisage a maiden senior international call-up in the next 12 months, but don’t be surprised if he spearheads a Kent title charge in 2021.
Luke Hollman (Middlesex)
Named in our T20 Blast Team of the Year, the leg-spinning all-rounder showed from the off in 2020 that he’s capable of winning games with both bat and ball. Defeats in their final two T20 Blast group stage fixtures deprived Middlesex of a quarter-final berth in 2020, but they’ll have high hopes for 2021 with their exciting crop of youngsters, Luke Hollman among them, coming through.
Joe Clarke (Nottinghamshire)
Joe Clarke has been one of the most exciting young batsmen in the country for some time now. In 2018, he came within a whisker of an England Test cap but well-documented off-field troubles coincided with a difficult year on the field in 2019. In 2020, Clarke, now 24, reminded us of his potential. A key cog in Notts’ T20 Blast triumph and back in the runs in first-class cricket, Clarke is one uncapped player who might benefit more than most from the exposure The Hundred will surely give players some county cricketers.
Lewis Goldsworthy (Somerset)
One of the few shining lights in England’s disappointing 2020 U19 World Cup campaign, Lewis Goldsworthy made an encouraging start to his county career in 2020 in the T20 Blast. An accurate left-arm spinner who bats, Goldsworthy is the type of player that the senior England ODI side will be looking for in the run up to the 2023 World Cup that’s set to be held in India. With more established county white-ball players plying their trade in The Hundred, the Royal London One Day Cup will hopefully provide an opportunity for Goldsworthy to showcase his talent.
Will Jacks (Surrey)
A hard-hitting top-order batsman, it’s Will Jacks’ off-spin that might be of particular interest to England in 2021. Jacks enjoyed a standout T20 Blast campaign in 2020 with both bat and ball and with Moeen Ali out of favour and out of form, England don’t have an obvious white-ball off-spinning all-rounder to turn to should they look elsewhere. An England call-up in 2021 might be a long shot but Jacks is certainly a player to watch in The Hundred while he’ll be hoping to add consistency to his red-ball game.
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Ollie Robinson was tantalisingly close to a maiden Test appearance in 2020 and 2021 may finally be the year that county cricket’s premier wicket-taking machine wins full England honours. His last 185 first-class wickets have come at an average of 18.14 and his Bob Willis Trophy wickets in 2020 came at a quite frankly absurd 12.50 runs per wicket. Another year like that and a spot on the plane for next year’s Ashes surely awaits the Sussex seamer.
Dan Mousley (Warwickshire)
Like Goldsworthy, one of the few bright sparks in England’s U19 World Cup campaign. A wristy left-hander who likes to sweep, not dissimilar in style to Eoin Morgan, Dan Mousley was impressive when afforded opportunities in 2020. In September, Mousley, 19, formed one half of a world record fifth wicket partnership in T20 cricket alongside Adam Hose.
Matty Potts (Durham)
A 22-year-old quick from Sunderland, Matty Potts was mightily impressive in Durham’s T20 Blast campaign where Durham came within a whisker of qualifying for the knockouts; three consecutive economical three-fors at the backend of the group stage kept his side in the hunt. One of the quicker young pace bowlers on the county circuit, Potts will be hoping to make a similar breakthrough in first-class cricket in 2021 as he did in T20 cricket in 2020.
