January has been a busy month for our men’s squad as many of our players have continued to ply their trades overseas in franchise cricket and other domestic circuits around the world.
Leus du Plooy, Stephen Eskinazi and Max Holden have been playing franchise T20 cricket in the Betway SA20, Bangladesh Premier League and DP World ILT20 respectively – rubbing shoulders with some of the best T20 players on the globe.
Henry Brookes and Ryan Higgins have been in Zimbabwe’s domestic leagues.
In addition, Aaryan Sawant, Naavya Sharma and James Isbell have been in South Africa with England’s Young Lions playing in Youth ODIs and a Youth Test series.
Elsewhere, five players are in Australia playing grade cricket, whilst the remainder of the squad have been basing themselves at the Julian Hill Cricket Centre at Merchant Taylors’ School.
LEUS DU PLOOY – JOBURG SUPER KINGS
Du Plooy has played seven matches so far in this year’s SA20 and has scored 110 runs at an average of 27.50 – with his best score of 38 coming against Durban’s Super Giants in the team’s second match of the tournament.
STEPHEN ESKINAZI – DHAKA CAPITALS
Featuring for Dhaka Capitals in the Bangladesh Premier League, Eskinazi has only managed four matches in the competition so far, with a best score of 46 coming against Durbar Rajshahi.
MAX HOLDEN – DESERT VIPERS
Holden has only managed one appearance in the ILT20 so far this year, which was earlier this week as he struck an unbeaten 70 from 54 balls – hitting nine fours and a six to help Desert Vipers defeat Gulf Giants in Dubai.
HENRY BROOKES - RHINOS
So far during his stint in Africa, Brookes has played a single four-day game – which was significantly impacted by rain – as only 9.3 overs were possible. He managed 4.3 overs, conceding 11 runs.
His only other appearance came in the Pro50 Championship, where he went wicketless in seven overs and scored three with the bat.
RYAN HIGGINS - ROCKS
Like Brookes, Higgins has been playing one-day and four-day cricket.
In two first-class appearances, Higgins has managed 26 runs and three wickets. However, in the sole 50-over match he played in, he top-scored with 89, but it wasn’t enough as Eagle won by nine runs in Harare.
AARYAN SAWANT – ENGLAND YOUNG LIONS
Sawant has played in three Youth ODIs and a single Youth Test so far on the tour. His best score of 20 came in the third Youth ODI and his knock included an all-run seven!
Naavya Sharma and James Isbell have yet to play on this tour.
BLAKE CULLEN – STURT CC, ADELAIDE
In the latest outing, Cullen claimed his best figures of the month – 2/63 against Adelaide.
JOSH DE CAIRES – STURT CC, ADELAIDE
Whilst Cullen was taking wickets with the ball, de Caires made 28 with the bat against Adelaideand managed to claim a scalp himself in the four balls that he bowled.
BEN GEDDES – PERTH CC, PERTH
Batting at the top of the order, January has been a tricky month for Geddes as runs have been hard to come by. He’ll be hoping that February will see a better return.
LUKE HOLLMAN – TEA TREE GULLY CC, ADELAIDE
Finally, Luke Hollman has been in the runs through January, with his highest score of 72 coming against West Torrens in the side’s latest outing, off 126 balls in a knock containing eight boundaries.
ISHAAN KAUSHAL – FRANKSTON PENINSULA CC, MELBOURNE
Kaushal has been getting plenty of overs in the legs and his best return of 2025 so far was his 3/51 in the draw against Northcote.
