If previous experience is anything to go by, Gavin Hamilton expects Jafer Chohan to be ready to grab his chance when it comes with Sydney Sixers in the ongoing Big Bash League.

Yorkshire’s emerging leg-spinner is currently in Australia with the three-time BBL champions, signed as one of their three overseas players alongside former England batter James Vince and West Indian spinner Akeal Hosein.

Chohan, 22-years-old, is yet to play for the Sixers, who have won their first four matches and sit top of the table.

But, as Yorkshire’s new general manager of cricket Hamilton says: “It seems as though the Sixers have brought him in planning ahead.

“They’re covering a number of bases with what’s to come in late January with possible call-ups.”

Hosein will miss the back end of the Big Bash, which clashes with the ILT20 competition in the UAE, starting on January 11.

Jafer Chohan

Picture by Matt King/Getty Images. Jafer Chohan is yet to debut for the Sydney Sixers.

Added to that, fellow spinner Todd Murphy is very much in the mix to tour Sri Lanka with Australia’s Test team later in the month. They play a two-Test series from January 29.

After left-arm Hosein leaves, the Sixers still have three group games and the finals series to play should, as expected, they qualify. With Australia’s Test squad for Sri Lanka not yet having been picked, there is less certainty around Murphy’s availability.

Hamilton said: “I fully expect Jafer to play a part for the Sixers next month, and hopefully an important part too.”

And when he does, former international all-rounder Hamilton is confident the leggie will hit the ground running because he has already been through a similar experience this winter.

“When Jafer was in the West Indies with England’s white ball squad in November, he didn’t play,” Yorkshire’s GM said.

“But the feedback we had from the England coaches was that his attitude was outstanding and he worked very hard to be ready for whenever he was needed.”

Gavin Hamilton

Picture by YCCC. Gavin Hamilton is backing Jafer Chohan to shine in the Big Bash when given the chance.

Having only returned to Headingley in November to lead the cricket department, Hamilton has yet to fully get to know the rapidly improving Chohan. But what he has seen from afar, he likes.

The Londoner claimed 17 wickets from 10 games in this summer’s Vitality Blast, including hauls of five wickets and four wickets in successive victories over Durham at home and Worcestershire away through the middle of July.

He earned a three-year contract extension as a result of that and shortly afterwards was named in both the England Lions squad for their winter tour to South Africa and the full white ball squad for the November series in the Caribbean. But he didn’t play, only acting as back-up to his county colleague and mentor Adil Rashid.

“What a rise he’s had,” added Hamilton.

“I’ve only seen him in white ball cricket.

“We obviously gave him an extended contract in the summer, and that’s with a view to pushing him into red ball cricket as well. That’s something he’s really keen to be a part of at Yorkshire.

Jafer Chohan and Adil Rashid

Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Jafer Chohan alongside Yorkshire team-mate Adil Rashid during England’s white ball tour of the Caribbean in November.

“He’s just a very natural talent and is someone who looks like he absolutely loves bowling.

“Being out in Sydney can’t do him any harm at all. Hopefully he has a good experience and brings a lot back with him; knowledge, confidence – all that sort of thing.

“He just seems to grow and grow and grow and soaks everything up.

“He’s a player who doesn’t seem to be fazed by the big occasion or the game situation when we’re up against it or he’s got a job to do at a crucial time.

“He’s someone myself and Mags (Anthony McGrath, Yorkshire’s head coach) are really excited about working with.

“He’s had a busy winter so far, so hopefully all those little bits of things being around different squads will do wonders for him and for us.”
Ben Cliff and Jafer Chohan

Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. High Five! Jafer Chohan is congratulated by Ben Cliff during his career best T20 return of 5-14 in July’s Vitality Blast win over Durham at Headingley.

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