‘My contract was nearly torn up’
DAVID WILLEY has revealed Yorkshire threatened to “rip up” his contract over his controversial decision to answer a late call-up to the Indian Premier League. The all-rounder joined the Chennai Super Kings in April just days before the start of the county championship season, a move that went down like a lead balloon with the White Rose. But after his matchwinning knock for England against Australia at the Oval, Willey said he would do the same again. “It wasn’t a tough decision to make – you don’t get the chance to play in the biggest T20 competition in the world every day so it was a no-brainer,” he said.
“I was threatened with them ripping my contract up, which wasn’t great, but that has all been resolved now.”
Willey, who has signed a contract extension keeping him at Headingley for another year, threw Yorkshire’s preseason into turmoil. However he credited the stint overseas with not only reigniting his love of the game but also improving his skill set, which he says will benefit both county and country in the long term. “There is no better way for young guys to learn than to play with experienced guys who have played all around the world,” he said. “I learned just as much from watching guys like MS Dhoni as I did from the few games I played in. Things like that are invaluable and I found my love for the game again while I was out there.”
Willey will aim to build on his unbeaten 35 against Australia on Wednesday – his best score in ODIs – when the two teams meet again in Cardiff tomorrow. But he knows he has work to do to secure a World Cup spot. “I’ve probably underachieved with the bat to date for England so it was nice to get us across the line,” he said.
FORMER South Africa batsman Heino Kuhn powered Kent into the Royal London One-Day Cup semi-finals and ended Nottinghamshire’s reign as holders.
Kuhn scored an unbeaten 124 as the Spitfires romped to a nine-wicket victory at Trent Bridge. He shared an opening stand of 194 with Daniel Bell-Drummond (79) as Kent reached 257-1 in response to Notts’ 255-8.
Essex subsided meekly at Chelmsford as Yorkshire’s bowlers saw them into the semi-finals.
Gary Ballance (91) and Jack Leaning (57) rescued the visitors from 4-45 as they put on a modest 259-7. However Essex managed only 234.