Will Beer

Even if Will Beer has never become the legspinning sensation that the ECB had once hoped he would, he is recognised as one of the premier domestic white-ball spinners after a decade of success for Sussex in T20 cricket.

After coming through Sussex's age-group programme, Beer impressed for England Under-19s against New Zealand in 2008, but 2009 proved to be a breakthrough summer: he was afforded a run in the white-ball sides, and starred on T20 Finals Day, taking a combined 3 for 55 across his eight overs as Sussex lifted the title. Along with another promising leggie, Somerset's Max Waller, he was given a legspin masterclass by Shane Warne during the Ashes Test at The Oval, and it looked like the world was his oyster.

Beer was part of the ECB's spin programme, and was mentored by the late Terry Jenner. He spent the 2011 at Darren Lehmann's cricket academy in Adelaide, but his progress stalled in the longer formats. But in T20, he continued to impress as Sussex's main spinner, turning the ball both ways and picking up middle-overs wickets.

Always a handy lower-order batsman, Beer found himself shoved up the order as a makeshift Championship opener in 2019, and in his first innings there made a dogged, 336-ball 97 against Gloucestershire at Arundel.

ESPNcricinfo staff