Outside of Sussex, and the Southern Brave, Coles may not be that familiar to cricket followers, but that all changed this winter.

His performances for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 raised a few eyebrows, as the largely unknown quantity turned in two man-of-the-match performances to help Sunrisers retain their title.

He then backed up those performances with England Lions last month in the truncated series against Pakistan.

At just 16 years and 157 days old, Coles became the youngest player ever to represent Sussex when he made his debut at The Oval against Surrey in the Bob Willis Trophy in September 2020 – and he did not disappoint.

His left-arm spin accounted for Rory Burns, Jamie Smith and Ben Foakes – and the 21 runs he scored in the match demonstrated a sound technique and composure that suggested the emergence of a very talented player.

That talent has evolved under the eye of Sussex boss Paul Farbrace, as shown by Coles’ performances in last season’s County Championship.

He scored 1,032 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 47, and added 20 wickets, as well as providing as safe a pair of hands as anywhere in the Championship with 19 catches, most of those at second slip, a position in which he has excelled.