Reece Topley

Reece James William Topley is an English international cricketer who plays for the England cricket team in white ball cricket as a left – arm fast medium bowler. He plays for Surrey in domestic cricket. Topley debuted for England in August 2015 against Australia, and represented the team at both the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 and 2023 Cricket World Cup. He plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

Early life

He was educated at the Royal Hospital School. His father, Don Topley, was a first – class cricketer for Essex and Surrey. His father was also one of his teachers at Royal Hospital School, where he is a master of cricket. His uncle, Peter Topley, was also a first – class cricketer.

Domestic Career:

• First – class debut: for Essex against Cambridge MCCU in the 2011 season
• He impressed on County Championship debut against Kent, taking his maiden five wicket haul when he took figures of 5/46 in Kent’s second – innings of the match.
• In the following championship match against Middlesex he had his second five wicket haul, with figures of 5/64 in Middlesex’s first – innings.
• In May 2011, he signed a one – year professional contract with Essex.
• That month also saw Topley make his List A debut against the Unicorns in the Clydesdale Bank 40, with Topley claiming his maiden wicket in that format, that of Robin Lett.
• Mid-season Topley took a break from county cricket to return to Royal Hospital School to revise for his summer exams.
• However, during his break he was called up to play for England Under – 19s for their Youth One Day International series against South Africa Under – 19s.
• He returned to action for Essex in August, to date he has played two List A matches and nine first – class matches. He has made a good start to his first – class career, taking to date 34 wickets at an average of 23.55.
• The start to his career drew praise from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who stated that Topley could become a future Test cricketer.

IPL Career:

• In IPL 2021, he was asked to be a replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood by Chennai Super Kings, but he declined the offer as the cricketer feared the hike of COVID – 19 cases in India.
• In 2021, he was drafted by Oval Invincibles for the inaugural season of The Hundred.
• In December 2021, he was signed by Islamabad United following the players’ draft for the 2022 Pakistan Super League.
• In April 2022, he was bought by the Oval Invincibles for the 2022 season of The Hundred.
• He was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore to play in the IPL 2023 season for INR. 1.90 Crore in the IPL auction held on 23 December 2022.
• In the first match of the 2023 season against Mumbai Indians he sustained a dislocated shoulder injury and was ruled out of the whole IPL season.
• In 2023 he was bought by the Northern Superchargers for the 2023 season of The Hundred.
• In 2024, he and his teammate from Royal Challengers Bangalore, Will Jacks, are heading back to England for “international duties”.

International Career:

• Twenty20 International debut: against Australia on 31 August 2015
• One Day International debut: also against Australia, on 13 September 2015, taking figures of 0-33
• ODI debut: 13 September 2015 against Australia
• He kept his place in the ODI side for the series against Pakistan and played in all four matches. He picked up his first international wickets in the first match and finished with figures of 3-26, although it wasn’t enough to prevent an England defeat.
• He had picked up one wicket in each of the next three matches, with England winning all three games. He played in the first T20 international between the two sides, and finished with figures of 3-24.
• He continued his role in the ODI side for the tour of South Africa, and again played every game in the series. He took figures of 1–43 in the first game, as England won by 39 runs on the DL Method. In the next game he took figures of 4–50 to help England to back to back wins.
• England lost the next three games of the series, although Topley performed well, taking figures of 2–39 in the fourth match of the series and 3–41 in the final match, which South Africa won by 5 wickets. He played in both T20 internationals, although he didn’t take a wicket in either game.
• He kept his place in the England side for the T20 World Cup, but was expensive in the first game against the West Indies, taking figures of 1–22 in 2.1 overs. He was expensive in the next match against South Africa, bowling two overs for 33 runs.
• He was replaced in the side by Liam Plunkett and did not play in the tournament again. Topley was part of that successful T20 squad that was defeated in the World Cup Final in India, but upon returning home was found to have a stress fracture in his back.
• On 26 March 2021, Topley returned to the England starting XI in the second ODI against India at Pune. He took 2-50 from 8 overs. In October 2021, Topley was added to England’s squad for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as a travelling reserve.
• On 14 July 2022, in the second match against India, Topley took his first five – wicket haul and the best bowling figures for England in an ODI match with 6 for 24.