Ball out to earn a break
JAKE BALL aims to force his way back into the England shake-up after a miserable winter.
Ball wasn’t seen again against Australia after the fast bowler took 1-115 in the first Ashes Test defeat at Brisbane.
His stock fell further when he was later axed from England’s Test and one-day squads for the tour of New Zealand.
Ball, 27, plans to use the new county championship season – which starts today – to offer a nudge to the selectors ahead of the visits of Pakistan, India and Australia this summer.
The Nottinghamshire paceman, who faces Lancashire today, said: “I don’t think one game is any time to nail down a spot. I think you need to be given a few games.
“I haven’t had a run of games where I’ve shown what I can do and proved to people what I can do.
“So far it hasn’t worked out but hopefully I’m given a chance at some point this summer or maybe even the winter.”
Reigning Division One champions Essex, who have hired Anthony McGrath as head coach, begin their title defence against Yorkshire at Headingley.
Essex opener Alastair Cook along with international team-mates Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, who will feature for Yorkshire, have been made unavailable by England until the return match next month. ¬ÊENGLAND Women crashed to an eight-wicket defeat in the one-day series decider against India in Nagpur yesterday.
The hosts chased down England’s 201-9 with almost five overs to spare to take the series 2-1.