Record-breaking James Coles back to defend Sunrisers' crown

Sunrisers Eastern Cape coach Adrian Birrell has developed a formidable reputation for hand-picking relatively unknown English domestic cricketers.

But nobody could have predicted that Birrell had an ace up his sleeve when he signed 21-year-old, uncapped English all-rounder James Coles at the Season 4 Player Auction.

Twelve months on, Coles returns to Gqeberha for Season 5 as the most expensive player in The Hundred's auction history, and one of the clearest examples yet of what a breakout SA20 campaign can do for a young career.

Coles arrived at St George’s Park as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler with an increasingly dangerous bat, and he left South Africa having done real damage with both. Across seven matches, he scored 152 runs at an average of 38.00 and a strike rate of 170.79 - including one half-century with a top score of 61 - while also picking up five wickets with the ball at an economy rate of 7.33, with best figures of 2/34.

Nobody was asking, ‘James Who?’ any longer.

A genuine three-dimensional cricketer, Coles contributed with the bat at a very good strike rate, while offering another spin option in the middle overs for a Sunrisers side that went on to lift a third SA20 title in four seasons.

Coles claimed 5 wickets and scored 152 runs during his maiden Betway SA20 campaign

But Coles' rise did not begin in South Africa. A Sussex prodigy who became the county's youngest-ever first-class debutant at 16 years and 157 days, he had already built a reputation on the county circuit with a string of big scores - a maiden century against Glamorgan in 2023, back-to-back County Championship hundreds against Warwickshire in 2025, and a season aggregate of 879 Championship runs.

But, as so many young South African cricketers have experienced, it was his Betway SA20 exploits that turned heads and enabled him to become part of the greater discussion back home in England.

In February 2026, Coles headlined the inaugural The Hundred men's player auction, attracting a British record bid of £390,000 from London Spirit — a fee that made him, by some distance, the most expensive player in the competition's history.

Here's when the Orange Army can see Coles back at St George's Park! Register now for early access to tickets...

An international call-up was not far away, with Coles entering the England dressing room for the first time during the five-match T20I series against India last month.

"James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months," said England selector Marcus North.

Coles, unfortunately, did not debut against India, but his bow in international cricket surely can’t be far away, especially if he enjoys another stellar season with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Season 5.