My Ashes dream not gone West says Tom

TOM WESTLEY has shrugged off his painful Ashes snub and is praying he gets a chance to gatecrash the big party Down Under.

The Essex star was left out of Joe Root’s touring squad after playing in the summer Test series against South Africa and West Indies.

But Westley, 28, insists his confidence and self-belief are still strong.

The right-handed batsman is in Australia with the England Lions squad shadowing the full Test party for five weeks.

Young Surrey bowler Tom Curran has already been called up to replace the injured Steven Finn while the likes of Westley and Keaton Jennings are ideally placed to solve any more sudden injury problems.

And, despite being dumped by the selectors, Westley believes he is in the right frame of mind to answer any SOS.

He said: “It was bitterly disappointing not to get into the full Ashes squad, especially after making my Test debut this year.

“I would have loved to have been picked. You dream about playing in an Ashes series whether it’s at home or in Australia.

“I imagine it was a tough call but it was my own doing. I just didn’t score enough runs and I had to accept it.

“It was a frustrating summer because Test batting conditions were difficult and even when I got some starts I couldn’t kick on for a big score to cement my spot.

“Fortunately, I’m with the Lions and shadowing the main squad. If I can score some runs and someone gets injured or has a loss of form, hopefully I can get a recall.”

And he is adamant he can prove wrong the critics who jumped on his back during a lean summer.

He said: “What people said about me has not dented my confidence.

“At my age I know that it doesn’t take much for people to go from saying positive things about you to saying negative things.

“But getting dropped can be difficult to take.

“It was the first time I had been dropped from anything for quite a while.

“I played every game I was available for at Essex but suddenly it was about accepting being left out of an England squad after just getting my chance.

“It was a rollercoaster summer. We had two Test series wins and Essex won the Championship. But then I don’t make the Ashes squad.

“There’s no real shortcut to getting back in. I just have to work my socks off.”