NEW DELHI: Dinesh Karthik, the mentor and batting coach of the London Spirit men’s team for the 2026 season of The Hundred, described uncapped England all-rounder James Coles as possessing “rare” skill sets, which is why he attracted so much interest during the auction.The 21-year-old was roped in by London Spirit for a whopping £390,000 after a fierce bidding war between five franchises.
“First up with the bat, I think for the first time he is able to bat anywhere between 4, 5 and 6. At times he has been very good at 3 as well, so we have definitely looked at that aspect. He is a gun left-hander, someone involved in the powerplay and someone who has shown incredible skills with the ball. The fact that not too many of those skill sets exist in the UK tempted us to go strongly towards him,” said Karthik after the auction.Coles was part of the England squad for the 2022 U-19 World Cup and was recently included in the England Lions squad for the tour of Australia in January 2025. He made his county debut as a 16 year old at Sussex County Cricket Club, where he became the club’s youngest ever debutant in 2020.
He has been someone who has had a great upward curve. You could see walking into the auction that he would be one of the most sought after players.
Dinesh Karthik on James
In the County Championship last season, he scored 1,032 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 47 and added 20 wickets, while also proving to be a safe pair of hands with 19 catches, most of them at second slip, a position in which he has excelled.Coles’ record in the T20 Blast last season was equally impressive. He scored 397 runs at an average of 33 and took 10 wickets at an economy rate of just over nine.
James Coles of Sussex celebrates with Jack Carson after dismissing h10on Day 2 of the Rothesay County Championship Division 1 match between Sussex and Hampshire at The 1st Central County Ground on September 09, 2025 in Hove, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
But it was in the SA20 where the talented youngster caught everyone’s attention. Playing for Sunrisers Eastern Cape, he amassed 152 runs at a strike rate of 170.78 and picked up five wickets with his left arm spin.“For a start we were getting dry right at the end there. I do not think there was too much to say, but he has been someone who has had a great upward curve. You could see walking into the auction that he would be one of the most sought after players,” said Karthik.“Mo [Mo Bobat, Spirit director of cricket] and I have worked with him with England Lions and I have really enjoyed working with him as a player.
James Coles of Southern Brave bats during the The Hundred match between Southern Brave Men and Welsh Fire Men at Utilita Bowl on August 28, 2025 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
“We have had our eyes on him for some time now. He has always been a part of our plan and the fact that he has done so well in the recent past shows why teams really wanted him. We were very keen on him and we are very happy we got him,” he said.Coles is the fourth most expensive player recruited by Hundred sides this year. England’s Jofra Archer (£400,000), Phil Salt (£450,000) and Harry Brook (£465,000) were signed before the auction by Southern Brave, Welsh Fire and Sunrisers Leeds respectively.When asked whether the heavy price tag would put pressure on the youngster, Karthik replied: “For starters, we know his personality and because we know him quite intimately over a period of time from working with him, we back his skill sets.
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“We also back the person that he is. He is a very sorted kid, someone who does not get too carried away or too frustrated. Yes, there is a high price, but at some point in life when you do well, you have to deal with it.“I think he is at a stage where he is ready to deal with it because he seems to be someone who has shown a lot of growth in the recent past. The way he speaks, the way he has played in franchise leagues and the way we have observed him over a period of time suggests that his graph will only go up. He is definitely a future prospect for England, if not immediately then in the near future. To back somebody like him is quite a good achievement for us.“
