With preparations for the 2026 season continue at Merchant Taylors' School for Middlesex, a number of players are still playing overseas this winter. Here is the latest on how they are getting on!
In his second season representing the Desert Vipers in the ILT20, Max Holden was crowned champion, with his side defeating MI Emirates in the final by 46-runs, and game which the left-hander scored 41.
Dessert Vipers topped the group, only losing twice on their way to the title. Max finished the competition as the third-highest run scorer with 359 runs, at a strike-rate of 126.4. His highest score in the competition came in his side’s five-wicket victory over the Sharjah Warriors, where he struck 66*
Left-arm spinner, Zafar Gohar, joined up with the Desert Vipers during the campaign as a reserve player, however he did not feature in the competition.
Max has since returned to England, to focus on his preparations for Middlesex’s 2026 campaign, whilst Zafar Gohar has travelled to Pakistan to carry on his preparations there.
Following his stints in the Canada Super 60 and the Abu Dhabi T10, Leus du Plooy was called in to replace Faf du Plessis for the closing stages of the SA20, lining-up for the Johannesburg Super Kings, a side he has represented since the competition's inception in 2023.
He featured three times in the competition, scoring 86 runs at an average of 43. He also finished the campaign with the highest strike-rate, 175.51. His side qualified for the eliminator, however fell to a 36-run defeat to Paarl Royals.
England have qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup having gone undefeated so far in the tournament, with five wins from five.
Caleb Falconer, who signed his first contract with the Club in October, has featured in every game so far scoring 154 runs at an average of 51.33. His highest score came in England’s opener against Pakistan, where his knock of 66 earned him the ICC Player of the Match award. Caleb has also taken three wickets so far, all coming against Scotland.
Sebastian Morgan has featured four times in the competition and has taken five wickets at an average of 23.20.
England’s semi-final will take place against Either Australia or Afghanistan on 3rd/4th February.
Middlesex pair, Luke Hollman and Henry Brookes are both in Adelaide representing Tea Tree Gully. Hollman, in his second stint for the club, has amassed 230 runs so far in red-ball competition, at an average of 38.33. He’s also taken 14 wickets for the Bulls, including a five-fer against East Torrens earlier this month. In the One-Day competition, he’s totaled 68 runs and eight wickets in his three appearances. In T20s he’s taken six wickets.
Henry Brookes has featured four times since arriving down-under in early December, taking four wickets in red-ball competition and two in white-ball.
Also playing cricket in Adelaide this winter is Josh de Caires, who is representing Sturt District CC. The all-rounder has featured seven times across all formats so far.
Sturt currently sit second in the first grade table, with three wins from six so far.
Nathan Fernandes is continuing to score runs for Port Adelaide this winter, amassing 392 runs so far, from 11 matches in all formats. His highest score coming in the One-Day Cup when he struck 108 against Sturt District. The youngster has also been productive with the ball, taking eight wickets throughout the winter. He finished the T20 campaign with an average of 61.
Ben Geddes is playing for Perth CC for the third consecutive season this winter. He’s featured six times so far.
Earlier this month, Noah Cornwell flew to the Gold Coast to play club cricket for Burleigh. In the three matches he’s played so far he’s taken six wickets, at an average of 18.50. He also averages 30.50 with the bat.
Wicket-keeper, Jack Davies, has recently travelled to Cape Town to attend the Gary Kirsten Academy for a month. He’ll be taking part in a series of 1-on-1 coaching sessions with world-class coaches.
