Benny Howell

Benny Howell forged his reputation as one of the canniest white-ball bowlers in county cricket at Gloucestershire before returning to his first club Hampshire ahead of the 2023 season. An allrounder who began his career as an opening batter, Howell adapted bowling techniques borrowed from baseball pitchers and has been variously described as a mystery seamer, slower-ball specialist, and fast spinner. He primarily bowls knuckleballs and cutters and has become a regular on the franchise circuit, despite never quite graduating to international level.

Born in Bordeaux, educated at the Oratory School in Berkshire, and a dual-passport holder with Australian and British heritage, Howell made his Hampshire debut in 2010 in one-day cricket and made his first-class debut the following summer. He was released at the end of that season, but successfully rebooted his career at Gloucestershire. He gradually became a linchpin of their limited-overs, helping them win the Royal London Cup in 2015 and finishing the Blast as the competition's leading wicket-taker the following summer.

He first dipped his toe into the franchise waters by signing up for the Bangladesh Premier League in 2016, and has since played in the CPL, ILT20, LPL, PSL and Big Bash, as well as becoming a regular for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred on home soil. But the closest he came to England recognition was playing a one-day game for Lions at the age of 33 against South Africa in 2022, and he rejoined Hampshire on a long-term deal at the end of that season.