With the 2022 English domestic season behind us and the 2023 season what feels like an age away, some of Essex’s first-team players have relocated during the off-season in order to keep their skills at the highest level ahead of their return next season.
Eagles Captain, Simon Harmer has just completed the CSA T20 Challenge season lifting another T20 title with Titans Cricket in his native South Africa. Harmer was once again being very tight with the ball, taking 9 wickets at an average of 13 across the eight matches he played. His 22 overs were bowled at the second-best economy of anyone in the tournament.
Having finished top of the group after only losing one game, the Titans went all the way to lift the trophy at the JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom. In the ranks of the Dolphins was the familiar face of Grant Roelofsen, who had an outstanding campaign hitting 333 runs across 8 innings, averaging 48. However, Harmers’ Titans came out victorious winning by 4 wickets
Sam Cook and Dan Lawrence have flown out to Dubai to join up with the 15-player England Lions group for a training camp in preparation for a three-day match against the England Men’s Test side across 23-25 November.
The completion of the Pakistan Junior League last month saw Luc Benkenstein’s Gwadar Sharks fall at the final hurdle as they lost in the Final to the Bahawalpur Royals. On an individual basis, Luc had a standout tournament opening the batting, scoring 227 runs at an average of 32.50. His highlight of the tournament came against the Royals and Warriors, scoring back-to-back 70s.
Josh Rymell started his winter with the Deepdene Bears CC in Melbourne and has enjoyed an incredible stat hitting a blistering century off just 51 balls against Mont Albert CC. Feroze Khushi is also in Melbourne, Australia and has been in the runs hitting a run-a-ball half-century for Port Melbourne CC. Will Buttleman (Northern District CC, Sydney) and Ben Allison (Dandenong CC, Sydney) are also travelling to Australia before Christmas to compete in Australian Premier Grade Cricket.
