The 17-year old teenage sensation, James Coles became the youngest-ever to make a first-team debut in the Bob Willis Trophy aged 16 years and 157 days old. A wily left-arm spinner and a high-quality top-order batsman, Coles joined Sussex’s academy in 2019 and featured in age-group cricket for Oxfordshire, Sussex and other regional teams.

The Buckinghamshire-born offie made his first-class debut against Surrey on September 6th, 2020. He scalped Rory Burns, Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith on his debut and ended with the figures of 3-38. Prior to the start of the 2021 Championship season, he signed his first professional contract with Sussex at the age of 17.

Despite being just 17 years of age, he has made some exceptional contributions with both bat and bowl at the age-group level. His leadership and character have made great impressions on the coaching staff and if Coles continues in the same fashion, he has a very bright future ahead of him.

(As of August 2021)