Jafer Chohan is relishing the prospect of playing in – and hopefully shining in – the Big Bash League, which starts in Australia this weekend.
The Yorkshire leg-spinner has signed as an overseas player for three-time champions Sydney Sixers, who were last season’s runners-up to Brisbane Heat.
His spell Down Under continues a memorable winter for the 22-year-old Londoner, who travelled to the West Indies last month with England’s senior limited overs squad and then to South Africa on a Lions training camp.
Chohan has landed in Sydney ahead of his side’s opening game against Melbourne Renegades at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday (8.15am UK). The competition kicks off 24 hours earlier when Perth Scorchers host Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium.
Each of the eight teams has at least one Englishman signed up, with Chohan joined at the Sixers by James Vince and West Indian spinner Akeal Hosein.
Also in the Sixers’ squad is Aussie batting legend Steve Smith and all-rounder Jack Edwards, the younger brother of ex-Yorkshire fast bowler Mickey.
Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Jafer Chohan trains with England in the West Indies earlier this winter. He has since travelled to Australia for the Big Bash.
“I can’t wait,” said Chohan. “It’s my first time in Australia, and it will be really nice to play in a big competition such as the Big Bash.
“It will hopefully give me some learnings and confidence heading into next summer with Yorkshire. Hopefully I can do well in the Blast and maybe get picked up in the Hundred as well.
“But I just have to take things one step at a time.
“It’s about gearing up for the Big Bash and putting myself in the best place possible to perform.
“Having missed quite a lot of the summer through breaking my thumb twice, it will be really nice to just get some more cricket under my belt.”
Chohan sees the next couple of months as both an opportunity to learn but also to perform.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jafer Chohan is congratulated by Jordan Thompson and Dom Bess (r) on his Blast figures of 5-14 against Durham in July.
He claimed 17 wickets in 10 Vitality Blast matches for Yorkshire this summer, included hauls of five wickets and four wickets. His career best 5-14 came in the home win over Durham at Headingley in mid-July. Three days later, he excelled again with 4-30 in a win over Worcestershire at New Road.
It was form which attracted the attention of the England selectors, who picked him for their recent white ball tour of the West Indies, though he didn’t make his debut.
However, some good form in a successful campaign for the Sixers and he could gain further recognition when England travel to India for another limited overs tour in January and February.
“You’ve got some serious players in the Sixers’ set-up, and guys who have always won trophies,” continued Chohan. “That’s the expectation on them – that year in and year out, they need to be winning trophies.
“To be in a dressing like that, with players like Steve Smith, it’s always going to help you a hell of a lot.
“Hopefully those learnings, seeing what the environment’s like and how those sorts of guys go about their games – training and in games, I can bring some of it back to Yorkshire.”
Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Jafer Chohan gains some advice from Yorkshire team-mate Adil Rashid whilst on England duty in the West Indies.
Chohan’s stock is clearly rising after a progressive and impressive Blast campaign with Yorkshire, for whom he is yet to make his County Championship and one-day debuts.
And so is his confidence.
He said: “I think having that confidence is one of my bigger strengths, and it’s something they are trying to instil in all young English players – to be really confident in your own ability.
“Having a few games go my way, as they did in the summer, it’s definitely helped me grow like that.
“Going into big competitions, playing against some players I’ve grown up watching on TV, it’s really important that you feel like you belong and are not out of place.
“Now, thankfully, I’m in a really good place to go and hit the ground running and make an impact.”
Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Jafer Chohan is confident Yorkshire can have a successful 2025.
While Chohan’s initial focus will be on his Sixers’ commitments, he is already looking ahead to 2025 with Yorkshire and has high hopes for success under new coach Anthony McGrath.
“Nobody can doubt the amount of talent we have in this Yorkshire side,” he added.
“It’s a very young side, but having already gained promotion we’re just looking to go from strength to strength.
“I think we showed a lot of potential in the T20s as well, and we were disappointed not to make the quarter-finals. But we really do believe we have a side who can win competitions.
“That’s in Yorkshire’s blood. We should be winning the Championship and winning the Blast. We’re certainly not aiming to just be a mid-table team. We want to win competitions, and we definitely have the ability to go and do that.”
