England players Down Under: Alex Hales and James Vince top batting charts in the Big Bash

James Vince inspires Sydney Sixers to successful title defence, but how did the rest of England’s sizeable cohort fare during the tenth instalment of Australia’s premier T20 competition?

JAMES VINCE AND JAKE BALL (SYDNEY SIXERS)

James Vince provided a timely reminder to the England selectors ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, playing a starring role during the playoff stage of the competition.

The England batsmen propelled himself into the limelight, following a fairly quiet group stage campaign consisting of just two half-centuries, ending the tournament as the second highest run scorer with a total of 537 runs at an average of 38.35.

Vince hit a blistering unbeaten 98 off 53 balls against the Perth Scorchers in the Qualifier to help secure the Sixers a place in the final, only being denied a century when Andrew Tye controversially bowled a wide to concede the winning run.

The two sides would go on to meet again in the final with Vince carrying on where he left off, tormenting the Scorchers bowling attack with an eye-catching 60-ball 95, before being agonisingly dismissed just five runs short of a century, a feat only previously achieved in a Big Bash final by Adelaide’s Jake Weatherald in 2018.

Vince also proved his worth in the field, as he did during the 2019 World Cup, taking two catches in the final, one of which a stunning diving effort to remove the dangerous Mitchell Marsh as the Scorchers fell 27 runs short of the imposing 189 target set by the Sixers.

James Vince, what a catch!!

This guy is doing EVERYTHING tonight ? #BBL10 #BBLFinals pic.twitter.com/UyCZsi2kha

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) February 6, 2021

Typical of the Hampshire captain seen regularly in England, Vince’s innings relied heavily on elegant stroke play rather than the brute force we have become accustomed to in T20 cricket.

While the 29-year old’s ability has certainly never been doubted, many have questioned his technique at Test level with a habit of failing to capitalise on promising starts.

However, with the Pakistan Super League and the new English county campaign on the horizon, could the top-order batsmen re-identify himself as a T20 specialist and force his way back into England contention in the shortest format of International cricket?

? ? ?

Is that the shot of the tournament?! Live #BBL10: https://t.co/fN4ZRuFEpU pic.twitter.com/moqti7ZOwu

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 6, 2021

Nottinghamshire pace-bowler Jake Ball was drafted in by the Sixers as a late replacement for fellow Englishman Tom Curran to link up with his Outlaws skipper Dan Christian, where the pair have achieved huge success in the Vitality T20 Blast.

However, whilst offering a wicket-taking option with nine dismissals in just seven outings, Ball proved to be expensive with an economy of above 11.

LIAM LIVINGSTONE, JASON ROY AND JOE CLARKE (PERTH SCORCHERS)

Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy formed an impressive opening partnership for the tournament’s runners-up. Livingstone, whose chances at International level have perhaps been unfairly limited despite consistent explosive domestic performances, played an important role in the final with a valuable 45 before being dismissed alongside the Scorchers’ hopes of victory.

The Lancashire batsmen, who also proved a handy leg-spin bowling option, ended the competition as the seventh leading run scorer, amassing 426 runs from 14 innings with three half-centuries which included a notable 39-ball 77 in a high scoring run chase against Brisbane Heat to guide his team into the final.

Whilst being called up to the International squad on a number of occasions, Livingstone will certainly be hoping to earn a chance to prove himself as part of England’s limited overs side.

Jason Roy, who is firmly part of England’s limited overs setup, missed out on the chance to help the Scorchers’ quest for success as an ankle injury cut short his involvement in the playoff stages.

However, the Surrey batsmen had a highly impressive group campaign, accumulating 352 runs at an average of 35.20. Whilst failing to accrue a big score, Roy consistently got the Scorchers off to a flyer with the bat, the standout knock being an unbeaten 74 as part of a 123-run opening partnership with Livingstone in a nine wicket victory over Hobart Hurricanes.

Joe Clarke is a name very much on people’s lips in English county cricket but being signed primarily as a back-up option for the Scorchers, Clarke’s game time was limited to just three matches. However, the Nottinghamshire batsmen was able to showcase his ability with a 16-ball 34 against Melbourne Stars, proving he is certainly one to watch this summer.

ALEX HALES AND SAM BILLINGS (SYDNEY THUNDER)

Alex Hales reignited the debate over a potential International comeback as arguably the standout England representative experienced a scintillating campaign which resulted in the batsmen finishing as the competition’s highest run scorer and most frequent six hitter, striking 543 runs at an impressive rate of over 160.

The notable highlight came in a breath-taking 110, one of just two centuries in the tournament, off just 56 balls as the Thunder racked up a BBL record 232-5 against Sydney Sixers.

Hales also scored three rapid half-centuries as Sydney Thunder qualified for the playoffs in third position, signifying an impressive response following successive scores of zero to begin his campaign.

What a moment for the Englishman!

Hales finished on 110 from just 56 balls ?? #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/orSbVsnNIR

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 22, 2021

Hales’ enduring class and display of clean ball-striking will certainly give the England selectors a decision to make on a player who has not featured since he was axed prior to the 2019 World Cup following a number of trust breaches. For now though, the Nottinghamshire batsmen remains one of the most sought-after T20 batsmen in the world.

Sam Billings proved to be a useful acquisition for the Thunder, showcasing his ability to be aggressive at the back end of an innings and also re-build innings following the loss of early wickets.

Following an impressive International summer in 2020, Billings will be looking to cement his place in England’s white ball teams ahead of the upcoming World Cups.

The Kent wicket-keeper batsmen scored a useful 260 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 142.85, as well as contributing ten dismissals behind the stumps. Billings’ most eye-catching display came against Perth Scorchers, firing 83 from 48 balls in one of two half-centuries.

LEWIS GREGORY, JOE DENLY AND DAN LAWRENCE (BRISBANE HEAT)

Lewis Gregory’s consistent performances for Somerset have been rewarded with England call-ups, making his International debut during the T20 series in New Zealand in 2019, with his first Big Bash campaign providing an opportunity to showcase his skills as a finisher with the bat and with the ball.

The all-rounder chipped in with a respectable 173 runs at a strike rate of 132.06 and nine wickets, including a match-winning 3-22 on debut, but proved expensive as the Heat fell agonisingly short of a place in the Final.

Like Jake Ball, Joe Denly was also a last-minute replacement, taking the place of England batsmen Tom Banton. However Denly, who currently appears out of England consideration in all formats, struggled to make a major impact on the tournament.

Either side of a half century in his second innings and a vital 41 in the Eliminator victory over Adelaide Strikers, the Kent batsmen could only muster an additional 132 runs over ten innings at an average of 18.58, with a less than inspiring strike rate of 107.72.

Dan Lawrence also failed to make an impact in Australia, although the Essex batsmen was only present for a short spell before joining up with the England Test squad in Sri Lanka.

In his four matches, Lawrence could only average 10.25 at a strike rate of less than 100, with a Covid bubble breach alongside captain Chris Lynn making it a far from memorable stint Down Under.

DANNY BRIGGS AND PHIL SALT (ADELAIDE STRIKERS)

Danny Briggs, who recently signed a new deal with Warwickshire, is a frequently underrated T20 player last on the International scene in 2014.

The left-arm spinner is the all-time leading wicket-taker in Blast history with 172 wickets yet has been overlooked for franchise T20 competitions in recent years. However, the 29-year-old Hampshire graduate produced a number of impressive displays taking ten wickets at an economy of just 7.74, including 3-20 and 3-8 off three overs in victories against Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers respectively.

Briggs, who also contributed 35 with the bat against Hobart Hurricanes, will be eyeing a potential International recall this summer given the lack of left-arm spin to accompany the likes of Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Matt Parkinson in England’s white ball squad.

Briggs’ ex-Sussex teammate Phil Salt received International recognition during the T20 series against Pakistan in 2019 for his impressive performances at the top of the order in the T20 Blast.

However, a rather disappointing 2020 season appears to have left the batsmen way down the pecking order. Salt endured a mixed Big Bash campaign racking up a more than useful 310 runs but only managing an average of 20.66, somewhat representative of his highly aggressive approach.

Salt’s two half centuries came against Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades but the Sussex opener was unable to capitalise, with a top score of 59.

DAWID MALAN AND WILL JACKS (HOBART HURRICANES)

Hobart Hurricanes are one of the perennial struggles in Australia’s Big Bash League, making the final on just two occasions and losing both. However, they may have hoped for a slightly better campaign given the arrival of the world number one T20 batsmen, Dawid Malan.

Despite his ranking, Malan is not necessarily a guarantee for England’s T20 side and would have had high hopes of impressing in his first Big Bash stint.

In scoring 265 runs across ten innings, the Yorkshire batsmen had a solid, if not uninspiring campaign with just the single half century to his name, an impressive 75 off 56 balls against Melbourne Stars.

One noticeable take from Malan’s time in Australia was his relatively low strike rate, a touch over 113, reinforcing some concerns over the left-hander’s common slow starts to innings.

Will Jacks is one of the highest-rated prospects in English county cricket at the moment after bursting onto the scene with Surrey during the 2020 T20 Blast campaign. However, the big-hitting 22-year-old failed to have an impact with the Hurricanes.

Despite scoring a stylish 34 against Adelaide Strikers in just his second appearance, Jacks would only go on to score a further 45 runs in seven innings, including three dismissals without the troubling the scorers.

Subsequently, Jacks found himself as predominantly a rotation option but will have gained valuable experience and certainly be one of the ones to watch this summer.

BENNY HOWELL (MELBOURNE RENEGADES)

A name perhaps not well known to many cricket fans, but Gloucestershire’s Benny Howell was rewarded with a somewhat surprise contract for the Big Bash following years of impressive white ball performances in England’s One Day Cup and T20 Blast.

The combination of pinch-hitting and medium-paced variations have been highly effective in the domestic scene, making Howell a valuable member of Gloucestershire’s limited overs setup.

Describing himself as more of “quick spinner”, the all-rounder began impressively by conceding just 14 runs from his three overs in the Renegades’ opening victory against Perth Scorchers.

However, he would have been disappointed to be unable to showcase his skills on the big stage beyond the opening two games, particularly given the Renegades’ poor showing in which they finished bottom of the group stage, though it was always unlikely that Howell would play a major role following the delayed arrival of more experienced overseas players.

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