A number of Middlesex players have been continuing to ply their trade overseas following the festive period, both club, franchise and international cricket.
Stephen Eskinazi helped Perth Scorchers to a strong knock-out finish in the Big Bash League, following on from a strong 2022/23 campaign, which saw the side lift the trophy for a record fifth time.
Elsewhere, new recruit, Leus du Plooy, excelled in the SA20, helping his Joburg Super Kings make it through to the eliminator match having just squeezed through the group stage.
Du Plooy was the fifth-highest run-scorer in the competition, finishing with 377 runs at an average of 37.70. His highest score of the competition (71) came against Paarl Royals and he also notched two other half-centuries against Durban’s Super Giants and another against the Royals. He struck the most sixes for his team (17) and surpassed 3,000 runs in T20 cricket during the competition.
One piece of superb news for the Club comes from the women’s game as all-rounder, Mariko Hill, recorded Hong Kong Women’s first-ever century as they defeated Maldives in a T20I at the weekend. Hill struck 100 not out off 65 balls in an innings which contained 12 fours and a single six. Natasha Miles has also featured for Hong Kong in the tournament.
Max Holden has been at the ILT20 representing Dubai Capitals. At the weekend, he smashed 51 off 33 deliveries as they defeated MI Emirates. 40 of his runs came in boundaries!
Since the last update in January, a number of the men’s squad have continued to play club cricket in Australia. Robbie White had a superb outing against Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club, racking up 123 runs before falling to Middlesex teammate Luke Hollman.
During the close season, a number of our men’s squad have been overseas plying their trade in club cricket in Australia.
Five of them have being playing in the SACA Premier League in Adelaide. This First Grade competition includes other English county cricketers as well as a host of Australian first-class cricketers.
The opportunities that the group have experienced will hopefully place them in good stead ahead of our county season starting on 5th April when we welcome Glamorgan to Lord’s.
Here is a round-up of what the players have been up to:
JOE CRACKNELL
Cracknell has been playing for Adelaide University Cricket Club and has had some success across both red-ball and T20 cricket.
The 23-year-old notched 60 in the fifth round of their First-Grade competition against Kensington Cricket Club and followed that up with 47 against Glenelg – falling agonisingly short of a half-century in the T20 competition.
LUKE HOLLMAN
Like Cracknell, Hollman has been out in south Australia for a while and has played a number of matches – proving useful with both bat and ball.
With the bat, the Tea Tree Gully cricketer made 58 in the second round of the First-Grade competition against Port Adelaide. He took 1/44 with the ball in the match also.
In One-Day cricket, he made 53 against Prospect Cricket Club before taking 3/37 against Kensington Cricket Club in the next game.
MARTIN ANDERSSON
Andersson arrived in Australia for the new year and is settling into his new surroundings at Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club, where he’s playing alongside Hollman.
Last weekend the Middlesex all-rounder claimed figures of 2 for 64 against Kensington, when playing against fellow Middlesex teammate Robbie White.
ETHAN BAMBER
Bamber arrived in south Australia over the festive period and has made an impression at Adelaide University Cricket Club in the two matches he has featured in to-date – taking 3/35 against Kensington and making an unbeaten 35 with the bat in his latest outing against Glenelg Cricket Club.
The 25-year-old has returned to the club where he spent all of last winter and he enjoyed his time there. He has linked up with Cracknell – someone who he has played club cricket with from a young age at North Middlesex Cricket Club.
ROBBIE WHITE
White was another late arrival and has made an instant impact for Kensington Cricket Club – notching 47 in First Grade cricket against Adelaide University. In the one-day competition, he made a fabulous 77 against Tea Tree Gully.
He’ll be hoping to continue his good form as the domestic summer gets ever nearer.
SAM ROBSON
Robson has returned to Eastern Suburbs yet again and has been Mr Consistent. He has struck an unbeaten 67 against Sutherland Cricket Club and backed that up with an unbeaten 73 against Randwick Petersham.
THILAN WALALLAWITA
Walallawita spent some time before Christmas in Melbourne, Victoria where he turned out for Endeavour Hills.
His best figures of 4/40 came against Moorabbin Cricket Club, whilst he claimed a few other scalps here and there.
NATHAN FERNANDES
Fernandes enjoyed a brief stint in Western Australia pre-Christmas, where he played of University of Western Australia Cricket Club.
He helped the side reach the quarter-finals of the T20 competition and made an impact in the final group game against Midland-Guildford – taking 1/14 with the ball before striking 37 not out off 24 balls.
Away from the club scene, three players have featured in franchise cricket. A summary of what they have been getting up to can be found below:
MAX HOLDEN
Max Holden is currently in the United Arab Emirates, readying himself for the upcoming ILT20 which gets underway tomorrow.
He is in the Dubai Capitals squad alongside a number of international stars including: Sam Billings, Joe Root, David Warner, Mark Wood
Pre-Christmas, Holden was in the Bangla Tigers squad in the Abu Dhabi T10 – rubbing shoulders with Shakib Al Hasan, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Lynn and others…
In this competition, the 26-year-old didn’t feature, but no doubt will have learnt a lot and will be raring to go when our Vitality Blast campaign kicks off in May.
STEPHEN ESKINAZI
Stephen Eskinazi is at the Big Bash defending the title that he won with Perth Scorchers last year. Our white-ball captain has helped the side reach the knock-out stages of the competition.
Like Holden, Eskinazi participated in the Abu Dhabi T10 – making 55 runs in four appearances for the Chennai Braves. Teammates there included: Essex’s Sam Cook, Jason Roy – who captained the side – and South African spinner, Imran Tahir.
Eskinazi’s next assignment is the Bangladesh Premier League in February, where he will be involved with Chattogram Challengers.
LEUS DU PLOOY
Middlesex Cricket’s new signing, Leus du Plooy, is currently in South Africa representing Joburg Super Kings in the SA20.The 29-year-old’s top-score came against Paarl Royal, when he bludgeoned 71 off 43 deliveries…
In the game against Durban Super Giants, he made a fantastic leap to keep the ball in allowing David Wiese to take a catch to remove West Indian, Keemo Paul. You can check our X page to see it for yourself – definitely worth a look!
He too, like Eskinazi and Holden, played in the Abu Dhabi T10. The 29-year-old notched 85 runs in seven matches, which included a top-score of 47 not out against Chennai Braves in the fourth match of the competition.
The Team Abu Dhabi squad included: Tom Banton, Alex Hales, Colin Ingram, Tymal Mills and Roelef van der Merwe.
Once his stint in the SA20 is completed, he will join up with his Middlesex teammates as the squad look to ramp up preparations ahead of April.
