Tom Haines

Tom Haines confirmed the impression that he was among the best top-order batting prospects in the country with back-to-back seasons in which he averaged almost 50 in the County Championship, despite Sussex's struggles. After racking up 1176 runs in 2021, he took on the captaincy and contributed another 941, which included a career-best 243 at Derby. A Lions call followed in the 2022-23 winter, with Haines scoring a century on debut in Galle.

A compact left-handed batsman, who primarily bats in the top three, Haines also provides an extra bowling option with some bustling medium pace. He first nailed down a spot in Sussex's County Championship side in 2018, and was rewarded with a long-term contract.

Haines owed his third Championship appearance for Sussex - and first for two years - to the fact that Chris Jordan was called into the England Lions squad. It was so last-minute that he even needed his mum to give him a lift to Arundel from a second-team match at New Malden. It was quite a way to prepare for what followed: a maiden Championship hundred against Durham.

He spent the 2018-19 winter in South Africa at the Gary Kirsten Academy, but endured a lean 2019 as he failed to pass 39 in his 11 Championship innings. His wait for a second first-class hundred ended the following summer at The Oval in Sussex's final Bob Willis Trophy fixture, and his form took a leap forward in 2021. As well as his breakthrough Championship form, he was given the captaincy of the Royal London Cup team and scored a maiden List A hundred, too.
ESPNcricinfo staff