WET AND WINDIES

Willey and Co plan to use the ‘Halloween method’ so heavy dew and sweaty conditions do not prove too scary

HALLOWEEN has come early for England’s cricketers who will be bobbing for balls in buckets of water in order to prepare for T20 World Cup glory.

The sodden balls will be used in practice ahead of the opening game against the West Indies on Saturday to try to replicate the impact of dew and excessive sweat in the oppressive Dubai heat.

Even though the game takes place in the evening, temperatures can still top 30 degrees to leave England’s bowlers grappling with a slippery ball that can make their job tougher.

And having felt the effects in their two warm-up games so far, it is something they will need to be ready for.

“The biggest thing we learned is the amount of dew and sweat,” said all-rounder David Willey. “That’s been something we’ve had to try to manage very quickly in those games. You start sweating, and you just can’t stop.

“Moving forward we’ve got to think about how we’re going to keep our hands dry, keep our arms dry, dry the ball and also be able to bowl with a wet ball in the proper games coming up.

“It’s something we’ve discussed and even if it’s just dunking balls in buckets and catching, fielding and bowling with these wet balls we’ll certainly be doing.

“We’ll probably get some more towels to change them every over for the lads that are heavy sweaters, plus sweat bands and things.

“I think when we toured Bangladesh in a warm-up game, that was a bit hotter, but it’s certainly up there.”

Willey, 31, was one of England’s stars in the 2016 campaign, taking 3-20 in the final (above) before Carlos Brathwaite’s final-over blitz.

If that was hard to take then his axe from the 50-over 2019 World Cup squad after four years as a regular player was even worse and he describes the decision as his lowest point in the game.

But he now credits that disappointment and the support of his family as the reason why he is back at a global tournament ready to go one better than five years ago.

“I’m very lucky to have my wife there as well as the kids,” he added. “It gives me a bit of

perspective and the support that I probably needed at that time.

“It’s definitely made me a better person. I don’t think anything that happens in my cricketing career will ever be as bad or disappointing as that.

“It’s what you grew up dreaming about, wanting to play in a home World Cup.

“To be a part of it for four years and miss out was obviously disappointing, but the personal growth has been massive. It’s probably why I’m back playing for England.

“I’ve played every game as if it’s going to be my last and really savouring the moment of pulling on that England shirt.

“When I am finished, whenever that may be, I want fond memories.”