Experienced Sussex trio might need to roll back the years in group stage It’s as you were at Essex, while Ingram signs for Glamorgan
While Hampshire have the same two overseas players as they did for last year’s Vitality Blast, south coast rivals Sussex are parading two newcomers.
SUSSEX SHARKS
Captain: Ravi Bopara
Overseas players: Nathan McAndrew (Australia), Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Ari Karvelas (Greece).
2022 finish: Seventh (South Group)
2022 leading run scorer: Tom Alsop (318)
2022 leading wicket taker: Tymal Mills (15)
Key winter moves: Luke Wright’s retirement will leave a big hole in the top order, but the Sharks have recruited well from overseas. Nathan McAndrew had a good Big Bash with Sydney Thunder and brings new-ball experience and middleorder hitting potential while the experienced Shadab Khan looks an ideal replacement for Rashid Khan.
The big question: Sussex have plenty of bowling options and Shadab Khan
A quick look at Hampshire’s Vitality Blast group rivals Essex, Middlesex, Surrey, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan.
ESSEX
Overseas players: Simon Harmer (South Africa), Daniel Sams (Australia).
Key winter moves: It is 2022 all over again as far as Essex are concerned. They were sufficiently impressed with the Australian T20 specialist Daniel Sams (a strike-rate of 171.87 with the bat last season alongside 15 wickets) that they have asked him to return.
GLAMORGAN
Overseas players: Michael Neser (Australia, available pending Ashes call-up), Colin Ingram (South Africa)
Key winter moves:
Glamorgan have secured the services of Colin Ingram for the next two years and he will be available throughout the campaign, but Michael Hogan, their leading wicket-taker in 2022, has joined Kent. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Overseas players: Grant looks a terrific signing, but can Sussex get enough runs on the board? ExHampshire batter Tom Alsop, who missed the first four games of 2022 but still finished leading scorer, can anchor the innings and let others go for their shots. Wildcard watch: Ali Orr - In Wright’s absence Orr is likely to get an extended opportunity at the top
Roelofsen (South Africa), Zafar Gohar (Pakistan)
Key winter moves:
Gloucestershire are a team in transition following the departure of established stars Benny Howell, Ian Cockbain and Ryan Higgins. Financial pressures have precluded the return of overseas batsman Glenn Phillips and South African wicketkeeper-batter
Grant Roelofsen has been recruited to help plug of the order. He has only played eight T20 games but has all the shots in whiteball cricket, as he proved last year when he scored Sussex’s first List A double hundred against Somerset.
Final thought: Sussex will miss Wright and Rashid Khan, who could win matches on their own, and their hopes of making the knockouts may depend on the experienced Ravi Bopara, Tymal Mills and Steven Finn rolling back the years.
KENT SPITFIRES
Overseas players: Kane Richardson (Australia), George Linde (South
Africa).
Key winter moves: Darren Stevens has gone, but the nucleus of the side that won the title in 2021 before tanking a year later is basically intact. Mystery spinner Qais Ahmad was less of a mystery second time out so the Spitfires have gone for Richardson’s proven T20 pedigree. Skipper Sam Billings is available from the start, having spurned the IPL. the gap in the top order. Pakistani spinner Zafar Gohar has been contracted for the entirety of the competition.
MIDDLESEX
Overseas player: Pieter Malan (South Africa).
Key winter moves: Winter plans were torn up when left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj suffered serious injury days after signing for this competition and he’s yet to be replaced. However, both South African Pieter Malan and all-rounder
Ryan Higgins have been added since the Seaxes’ underwhelming showing last season.
SURREY
Overseas players: Sunil Narine (West Indies), Sean Abbott (Australia)
Key winter moves: The only significant change in Surrey’s short-form ranks from last year is the arrival of Sean Abbott, the Australian fast bowler who also hits a long ball, as an overseas player in place of West Indies veteran allrounder Kieron Pollard.