Brydon Carse

In a season halted by injury, Brydon Carse still managed to hit new heights shining for both England and Durham.

In the County Championship, the 28-year-old scored 407 runs in just eight innings including a maiden first-class century and three half-centuries proving himself as a key player in Durham’s middle order as well as taking 19 wickets averaging under 29.

The South African born cricketer shone with the ball taking impressive figures of 3/38 and 2/24 against Sussex and Derbyshire in addition to knocks of 91 and a career best of 108* against Derbyshire.

Carse began the day 77 not out with his team positioned on 410 for eight, and he signalled his intent to score his maiden first-class century by dispatching Zak Chappell’s first ball of the day to the fence.

Carse almost forgot to complete a second run in the midst of celebration, but comfortably made it back to acknowledge his delighted team-mates. He ended the Durham innings by clubbing Aitchison over long-on for a huge six, securing maximum batting points.

He then suffered a trunk injury during the game against the White Rose in mid-May, which prevented him from bowling for two months however returned as a specialist batter for the final six T20 fixtures.

Carse provided an immediate impact, scoring his T20 best of 58 from just 30 deliveries batting at number three as Durham tied with Derbyshire, before later helping Durham to another tie against Worcestershire with 39 from 19 balls.

The South African made his bowling return in the Championship in July, claiming match figures of 4/68 against Gloucestershire as well as notching 62 runs before scoring 80 in a draw against Derbyshire in his final Durham appearance of the season.

He hit the headlines on his T20 International debut for England against New Zealand on home soil at Seat Unique Riverside; he took the best figures for an England T20I debutant since 2016 with 3/23.

Going onto play two further T20Is against New Zealand before taking a wicket apiece in ODIs against New Zealand and Ireland.