Here’re top five English players in the Pakistan Super League 2022

BIRMINGHAM: As many as 27 English players featured in the 7th edition of Pakistan Super League, not only the most from any country but also by far the most English players compared to previous editions of this prestigious tournament. 

While many of those players have starred regularly in PSL but players like Harry Brook and Will Smeed who were playing for the first time in this tournament did impress all with their performances.

Here are the top five English players who outperformed their fellow countrymen in this edition of the Pakistan Super League.

1. Alex Hales - Islamabad United

Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales was the top scorer for Islamabad United in the PSL 7. Though Alex Hales has played for Islamabad United and Karachi Kings in the earlier editions of the PSL but couldn’t impress much with his performance. But this time it was a totally transformed Alex Hales. In United’s first game against Peshawar Zalmi Hales hit a quickfire 82 not out on 54 balls. In the first 7 matches of the tournament for Islamabad United, he scored 255 runs with two fifty-plus scores.

Surprisingly despite that brilliant run in the tournament, he announced to withdraw from PSL mid-way through citing covid bubble fatigue. But it was even more surprising when he announced to join the United squad again when they reached the knockout stages. 

Hales scored a match-winning 62 runs against Peshawar Zalmi in the first eliminator followed by 38 runs in the 2nd eliminator match against Lahore Qalandars which the United lost and were knocked out of the tournament. Alex Hales ended up scoring 355 runs at an average of 44.38 with a strike rate of 148.

2. Jason Roy - Quetta Gladiators

Jason Roy started his campaign in the PSL 7 with a bang, scoring a century in his first game of the tournament. Playing versus Lahore Qalandars the flamboyant English opener scored a scintillating 116 in just 57 balls hitting 11 fours and 8 sixes and that too against a bowling attack that included players like Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Rashid Khan.

Although Jason Roy, who plays for Surrey county club, has featured in some earlier editions of the PSL but this was without any doubt his best outing compared to his earlier performances. 

Jason Roy ended up as the highest run-scorer for Quetta Gladiators scoring 303 runs at an average a shade above 50 with a strike rate of 170. Roy scored a century and two fifties in the six matches he played in the tournament. Jason Roy couldn’t take part in the first few games for Gladiators due to the birth of his 2nd child.

3. Harry Brook - Lahore Qalandars

Harry Brook who was was picked by Lahore Qalandars in the Gold category couldn’t participate in the few opening games of PSL as he’s was also in England’s T20I squad touring West Indies at that time. 

Batting in the lower middle order, Harry Brook, who represents Yorkshire in county cricket, had a confident start in the tournament scoring 37, 41 and 26 in the first three matches he played. But Brook’s moment of glory arrived in the game against Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium where he scored a magnificent century. Qalandars were 3/12 when Harry Brook arrived at the crease. But from a difficult situation, he turned the tables around scoring 102 in just 49 balls smashing ten 4s and five 6s. He was the 2nd Qalnadar player after Fakhar Zaman who scored a century in this year's PSL. It was also Brook’s first 100+ score in a T20 match.

Brook was also instrumental in the final against Multan Sultans where he first had a combined partnership of 100 runs batting first with Mohammad Hafeez and then David Weise. Brook scored 41 runs on just 22 balls in the final.

Harry Brook ended up scoring 264 runs in 7 innings at an average of 52.80 and with a strike rate of 171.42.

4. Will Smeed - Quetta Gladiators

Somerset’s Will Smeed playing for the first time in the PSL was lucky in some ways but probably the unluckiest in other ways. 

He joined Quetta Gladiators as a last-minute replacement for opener James Vince who was unable to join the Gladiators squad for the initial matches of the PSL7 because of national duties. But that turned out to be a golden opportunity for Will Smeed who announced his debut in PSL in some style. 

Opening for Gladiators in their first match of the tournament versus Peshawar Zalmi, Will Smeed narrowly missed scoring a century in his PSL debut as he smashed 97 runs on just 46 balls. That followed by another score of 30 against Karachi Kings. But with Jason Roy and James Vince joining the Gladiators squad and the other opener Ahsan Ali being in fine form, Smeed was made to sit on the sidelines for a few games. But his comeback game resulted even better for him as he ended up scoring 99 runs on 60 balls missing a second opportunity in the tournament to score a hundred. Like before the opposition again this time was Peshawar Zalmi. 

In total Will Smeed scored 240 runs, the third-highest for Gladiators in the tournament at an average of 40 with a strike rate of 150.

5. David Willey - Multan Sultans

Yorkshire’s left-arm fast bowler was also featuring for the first time in the PSL, he was the only Englishman picked by Multan Sultans in the supplementary category. 

Willey, who’s also played 52 ODIs and 32 T20Is for England, was one of the main strike bowlers and played a big role in making sure that Multan Sultans reach their second consecutive PSL final. He featured in 8 matches for Sultans in total including the knockout and the final match too taking 13 wickets in total at an average of 14.38. 

In the league matches, he picked up 3 wickets twice vs Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United. 

He was impressive in the knockout game against Lahore Qalandars but unfortunately couldn’t continue that form in the final against the same opposition. But overall it was an excellent tournament for Willey who is also the son of former English international umpire Peter Willey.