The uncapped England players eyeing a PSL launch pad
Players from the main squad will arrive only after the Caribbean T20Is, which gives these six players the chance to shine
Matt Roller26-Jan-2022Tom Lammonby (Karachi Kings)Lammonby is still finding his feet as a T20 player but a strong PSL could see him emerge as one of England’s most promising finishers with the bat. A left-hander who is significantly stronger facing seamers than spinners, Lammonby played one of the best innings in last year’s T20 Blast when he made 90 off 36 balls in a must-win game for Somerset against Gloucestershire, and has played a handful of games in the Hundred and the Big Bash. He also provides an extra bowling option with his left-arm medium pace, though that facet of his game remains a work in progress.
Watch EVERY BALL of Tom Lammonby's INCREDIBLE 90 from 36 balls!!!! #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/X0rr74yXMN
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) July 19, 2021
Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Peshawar Zalmi) Kohler-Cadmore falls into the unusual category of players who are rated more highly overseas than in his own country. Playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred last year, Kohler-Cadmore was left out of the side midway through the tournament before hitting 71 off 44 balls in his final appearance when they had already been eliminated. He missed out on England’s T20I squad to play West Indies but is looking to add a third trophy to his collection this winter, having already won the Abu Dhabi T10 with Deccan Gladiators and the LPL with Jaffna Kings.Luke Wood (Quetta Gladiators)A bustling left-arm seamer who can hit 90mph/145kph on his day, Wood replaced Naveen-ul-Haq in Quetta’s squad and could make his first appearance in an overseas T20 league, though has previously played in the Abu Dhabi T10. Wood was particularly effective at the death in the Blast for Lancashire last summer, and bowled better than his figures suggested in the Hundred before suffering a side strain. He can also bat, having scored two first-class hundreds.Ian Cockbain (Karachi Kings)Gloucestershire’s highest T20 run-scorer, Cockbain is enjoying a breakthrough winter overseas at the age of 34. He was playing club cricket on artificial pitches in Melbourne while holidaying with his Australian wife when he received a text from his former county colleague Daniel Worrall, suggesting he might be in contention for a replacement deal at Adelaide Strikers, and since then has hit 191 runs off 127 balls across five consecutive wins to take them into Wednesday’s Challenger final against Sydney Sixers. Cockbain has transformed his short-form game after missing out on a contract in the initial draft for the Hundred, scoring at a much quicker strike rate from his usual spot at No. 3. He could start in Karachi’s middle order alongside another Englishman: Joe Clarke, who played some important cameos for them last season.
An Englishman scoring runs on the MCG #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/Q7qXxKmCFg
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 23, 2022
Harry Brook (Lahore Qalandars)Brook had a breakout season in 2021, and was voted young player of the year by both the PCA and the Cricket Writers’ Club after starring in the middle order for both Yorkshire and Northern Superchargers. He was brought back down to earth by a tough Big Bash – he averaged 6.28, and was dismissed five times in the 26 balls he faced from spinners – and is currently running the drinks for England in Barbados. He will hope to find his feet quickly in Pakistan if Qalandars give him a chance.Will Smeed (Quetta Gladiators)Smeed will only be available for a handful of games after signing as a partial replacement for Jason Roy, but that could be enough for him to make a big impression. He is only 20 years old and is yet to make his first-class debut, but starred for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred with a strike rate of 172.91. He also impressed at No. 3 for Somerset, as they reached the Blast final last summer.