Little over a month ago, Joe Denly was grinding it out in the County Championship with Kent in Canterbury in a Division Two clash against Lancashire. Fast forward to now, he is in a different corner of the world, leading the England outfit in the 2025 Hong Kong Sixes, which just goes on to show you that modern cricket never ceases to amaze.
As a certified veteran of the game, Joe Denly has nearly experienced all that cricket has to offer. Whether it be the rigors of first-class cricket, featuring for your country across all formats, experiencing franchise cricket, or now even dipping a toe in unconventional formats, it has been quite a journey—from cricket’s purest form to its strangest.
Joe Denly opened up about his upcoming challenge at the Hong Kong Sixes as he leads England, his experience while sharing the dressing room with Shubman Gill in the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), his thoughts on the upcoming 2025-26 Ashes, and much more. Excerpts from Joe Denly’s exclusive interview with Sportskeeda:
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### Q. For nearly everyone, Hong Kong Sixes represents memories of balls just flying out of the park, but is there more to it than just pure slogging? Especially for someone like you who has over 250 first-class games. Could this particular environment be any more different than what you are used to?
**Joe Denly:** I think that the basics of trying to hit sixes do not really change much, and I guess it is about trying to stake your pose at the moment, not looking too far ahead. If you do that, hopefully, that’s a good recipe for doing well.
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### Q. You obviously have leadership experience across formats when it comes to conventional cricket. However, what are the different things that you need to keep in mind while leading in such an unorthodox form of cricket? Will you be channelling Bazball for the Hong Kong Sixes?
**Joe Denly:** It’s about trying to have fun, and that is the message I will be relaying to the team. You’re probably going to get hit for a few sixes, and that’s okay. You are coming up against good, quality players on quite a small ground. As a bowler, you have to really back yourself and try to stay in the moment.
As a batter, it’s about trying not to look too far ahead. If you do the basics pretty well, then you should be okay. Ultimately, it’s about keeping the lads relaxed and entertaining the crowd, which hopefully will be well supported.
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### Q. You have several youngsters on your side, like Dan Mousley and James Coles, who are future prospects for England. How much do you think a good campaign at the Hong Kong Sixes will help them in their selection and international career, or is it completely irrelevant?
**Joe Denly:** The team that has been selected — the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) have certainly played a part in that. These are guys who are very highly thought of in England, kind of on the cusp of white-ball selection.
They were probably unlucky not to be involved with the England Lions this winter, so I am sure selectors will be keeping an eye on this competition and seeing how those guys perform. Hopefully, they can put in some really strong performances. You never know — you might even get a late call-up to some squad later this winter.
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### Q. On your IPL debut, you opened with none other than Shubman Gill. Were there any early signs that he would reach where he is now? What were your observations about this prodigal player who was just looking to make his mark at the time?
**Joe Denly:** Shubman was certainly a young player with an abundance of talent. Very calm character, so it’s no surprise that he has gone on to achieve what he has.
He’s very highly thought of in India and around the world. He continues to impress, and that comes as no surprise. Unfortunately, I did open the batting with him, but I only lasted one ball, sadly, so I didn’t get a chance to build a partnership.
It’s great to see what he is achieving now — he’s going to be a superstar for many years.
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### Q. Is there anything in particular that you fondly recall from that IPL season, given that you shared the dressing room with players like Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna, who are all part of the Indian squad now?
**Joe Denly:** It was an incredible couple of months in India—just to experience the IPL, the atmosphere, and the excitement wherever you travelled.
I shared the dressing room with some Indian stars who are still playing now. Very fond memories. I always enjoy keeping track of their progress; it’s great to see them perform on the world stage.
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### Q. As one of the few active players who has played the game for over two decades, what are your thoughts on how the game has changed and where it is headed? How much has this rapid change affected your career?
**Joe Denly:** Nowadays, young players coming into the game are completely fearless. When I started, it was about scoring hundreds and batting for long periods.
Now, it has kind of flipped — you still look to score runs, of course, but also to entertain. There’s absolutely no fear of failure.
The shots people play now, all around the ground and 360 degrees, are incredible. I grew up trying to play straight down the ground with a high elbow and solid balance, but now guys even in Test cricket are flicking it over fine leg and reverse scooping — really taking the game on.
It makes for a great watch and a great brand of cricket. It’s not just England labelled with Bazball; teams have been playing like this for a long time. It’s great to see and great to watch. The game of cricket is just getting better and better.
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### Q. We recently saw James Anderson extend his contract with Lancashire. Do you plan to extend your career as long as he has?
**Joe Denly:** Not sure. I turn 40 next year, so as long as I’m still enjoying it and having an impact on the field—performing and trying to win games for Kent—then who knows?
It also depends on staying fit. Red-ball cricket might not be my focus over the next few years; probably more T20 cricket and maybe a little coaching as well. I’m not sure I’ll be playing into my mid-40s like Jimmy Anderson, but you never know!
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### Q. You have been in the thick of action when it comes to the Ashes. Do you believe this is England’s best shot in a long time? For several players this is their first time on Australian soil; what advice would you have for them?
**Joe Denly:** We certainly have a very good squad going out there. People say it’s our best chance in a long while—I remember playing in the 2019 Ashes series, and I never once thought we couldn’t win.
The teams have changed a lot since then, with quite a few new faces, but England definitely has a great chance.
This is an exciting team, brilliantly led by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. There has been quite a lot of chatter, as you’d expect, with Australians critiquing the way we play—the Bazball style and everything.
It’s going to be a really intriguing series to watch, and I can’t wait for it to get started.
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Joe Denly’s journey—from traditional cricket to embracing modern and unconventional formats—reflects the evolving nature of the game, while his leadership and experience continue to inspire the next generation of cricketers.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-hong-kong-sixes-2025-it-s-surprise-joe-denly-heaps-praise-once-teammate-shubman-gill-s-swift-rise-exclusive
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