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DAVID WILLEY ON THE AGONY OF BEING DITCHED AT THE LAST HURDLE
DAVID WILLEY was not surprised when the phone rang. On the other end of the line, ed Smith, national selector, delivered the grim yet inevitable news that he had been dropped from england’s 2019 World Cup squad in favour of Jofra Archer.
Just like that, four years of hard graft evaporated. Willey, who had played a key role in his country’s oneday revival following the shambles of 2015, took a glance out of his kitchen window and into the garden where, on a glorious May day, his wife was playing with their two young children. ‘I went outside and immersed myself in playing in the sand with tractors,’ the 29- year- old, desperately unlucky to miss out having been in the provisional squad, explains in his first interview since last year’s heartbreak. ‘It gave me a bit of perspective — but it didn’t make it any easier.’ To reasonable onlookers, the axing of Willey in favour of Archer was ruthless. Admirably, the all-rounder, who has just been named Yorkshire’s Twenty20 captain, bears no grudges but admits watching england’s glorious World Cup final win was tough.
‘ expecting it did not make it hurt any less,’ he says. ‘I remember shedding a tear during the final. I’d been a part of that group of lads for four years so it was hard to watch — but I was absolutely delighted for the lads I’d been with in that time and it was absolutely brilliant for english cricket.’
While Willey sat watching england’s march to glory, Archer bowled the super over which gave eoin Morgan’s side their precious victory.
Willey is pragmatic. ‘It’s professional sport,’ he says. ‘You’re flavour of the month one minute and when things change you’re moved to the side. That’s not just cricket, not just england cricket, that’s every walk of life.’
he again stresses that he could see it coming. ‘ I wasn’t under any illusions,’ he explains.
‘Obviously Archer was going to come in and someone was going to miss out. I hadn’t been playing very well and hadn’t been playing regularly, so I knew I was in the one or two lads it was going to be.
‘I was utterly disappointed but I wasn’t surprised. Archer is a brilliant cricketer, there’s no denying that. They went on to win it and I was absolutely buzzing for them.’
Willey was quick to offer his congratulations. ‘I messaged every single lad who was part of that group in the final,’ he says. ‘I’m not bitter about it at all. I had played with them for four years and we had been on a journey.’
Did they respond? ‘ Most of them,’ he says. ‘There were a few who didn’t, but yeah…’
Willey’s exile continued this winter, when he was not chosen to tour New Zealand or South Africa. he did get a call to tell him that england were looking at other options but he has not heard anything since. No message from new coach Chris Silverwood to let him know where he stands? ‘No,’ he says. ‘ I haven’t heard anything from anyone, to be honest.’
regardless, he remains hopeful of a recall and has not turned his back, despite the fact that some would feel he has every right to do so. ‘It’s sport,’ he explains. ‘ My wife (singer- songwriter Carolynne) has worked in music. She knows how cut-throat it is — probably more than cricket. She understands. She was a great support for me. ‘I’m making it sound like it was something really traumatic! It was disappointing but I am never going to close the door. I want to play cricket for england. I want to play at the highest level possible. I’m 30 soon but I don’t feel by any means that my england career is over and I actually feel like my best cricket is to come.’ It is a measure of Willey’s character that he can say what he says next. ‘If I am playing well, just like with Archer, they couldn’t leave him out,’ he explains. ‘That’s what I want to do, where I want to be. If I am performing so well that they can’t leave me out, then great. ‘I haven’t closed any doors. I’m not going to miraculously get a call overnight but if I perform well and take care of my game, (a return) will take care of itself.’ Performing well means excelling at headingley in his new role. ‘It gives me a new focus and has come at the perfect time in my career,’ he says. ‘I’ve taken stock over the winter and am genuinely buzzing for summer.’ Willey’s attitude is impressive and his drive clearly remains. As does his sense of humour. The Northampton-born left-hander, who joined Yorkshire from Northants in 2015, is asked if he feels privileged to be a southerner in charge of the white rose. ‘We’ve got an overseas captain this year!’ he responds with a smile. ‘This is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I am honoured. All I want to do is win silverware.’