As a true globetrotting T20 specialist who can excel with bat and ball, Daniel Sams has racked up impressive statistics while playing across the world.
Since making his debut in the Big Bash seven years ago, he has thrilled countless crowds across some of the most iconic stadiums in the world.
Following the news that Sams will be returning to Essex for an eight-game Vitality Blast stint this summer, this is a look back on the 31-year-old’s career, by the numbers.
98* – his career top score
Batting at number four for Sydney Thunder during a meeting with Melbourne Renegades at Marvel Stadium in January 2022, Sams showed his full destructive prowess.
The Renegades won the toss and opted to field, though they were left to sorely regret their decision after Sams entered the fray at 78-2 in the ninth over and blitzed a stunning unbeaten 98 from 44 balls.
His knock, which included eight sixes, was a 54-minute exhibition, and, in conjunction with Alex Hales’ 28-ball 63, it helped the Thunder post 209-7.
Sams then put the brakes firmly on with the ball, conceding just 10 runs from two overs and taking the wicket of Mackenzie Harvey, as the hosts were roundly thrashed after being bowled out for 80.
5/30 – his best bowling return
Despite narrowly missing out on adding his name to the list of Big Bash century-makers, Sams did become the 26th man to take a five-wicket haul in the competition in December.
Less than a week before the world welcomed in 2024, the Thunder took on Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, with the hosts winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Sams snared his first wicket, that of Josh Brown, in his second over, but it was his fourth and final one that grabbed attention as he claimed four more in just six balls to go from figures of 1/29 to 5/30.
Despite the Heat’s collapse from 156-3 to 172 all out in less than three overs, their total still proved to be enough to sneak a win by 15 runs, though the headlines were naturally still dominated by one man.
271 – most prolific at Chelmsford
Given Sams’ appearances at stadiums from Texas to Tasmania, Essex fans will likely be delighted by the statistic that there is nowhere that tops Chelmsford for where he has scored the most runs.
Since signing on for his first stint with the Eagles in 2022, he has played 13 games at The Cloud County Ground, striking 271 runs at an average of 33.87.
That puts Chelmsford 28 clear of his next most-prolific venue, Manuka Oval in Canberra, while his top score at the ground, an eye-popping 71 from just 24 balls, came against Sussex in his first season.
Coincidentally, Sams has also taken more catches at The Cloud County Ground than at any other venue, snaring eight, which is again narrowly ahead of Manuka Oval, at which he has taken six.
10 – international appearances
Sams has achieved the highest sporting honour of playing for his country ten times in his career, all in the shortest format, with his debut coming against India at the SCG in December 2020.
He made an instant name for himself on the biggest stage with his first international wicket being that of none other than Virat Kohli, caught by Matthew Wade.
Further matches against India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and England all followed, with the most recent of Sams’ appearances for Australia coming in October 2022.
There is a strong case that he should have added to those ten caps, even given Australia’s glut of all-rounders, but the national team’s loss has undoubtedly been several domestic teams’ gain.
137.00 – marmalising Middlesex
Essex fans will remember Sams’ blitz at Lord’s last summer, but that only told half the story of his dominance of Middlesex over the last two seasons.
Since arriving in county cricket in 2022, he has averaged a colossal 137.00 against the Seaxes, scoring that total in just three innings and being out only once.
For context, the next highest counties on the list are Sussex, against whom Sams averages 40.33, and Hampshire, who he has scored at 33.00 against.
What’s more, there are 13 teams across the world, including internationals, whom Sams has also played at least three matches against, but have not conceded as many runs to him as Middlesex.
7 – player of the match awards in T20
Sams’ all-round capabilities mark him out as a player with a high chance of impacting a game in either innings, and he has grabbed the headlines on seven occasions in his T20 career.
A swift 21-ball 34 followed by a strangling bowling return of 3/5 from two overs for Thunder against Melbourne Stars in December 2018 brought him his first player of the match award.
He has since followed it up with identical recognition in three more Big Bash games, the Global T20 Canada, Major League Cricket in the USA, and, most impressively of all, the Indian Premier League.
The latter came while playing in what many might call the IPL’s biggest fixture too, Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings, with Mumbai’s Sams taking 3/16 from four overs to set up a five-wicket win.
Read More:
Sams Returns For 2024 | Sams’ Top Five Eagles Moments | Blast From The Past: Sams Special
Get priority access to Vitality Blast tickets
Sams will be in Essex’s ranks for four explosive home Blast fixtures in 2024, including two Friday night clashes under the lights.
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