KENT CRICKET
Matt Walker believes Joe Denly deserves another England call-up following his performances for Kent this season.
The 32-year-old has starred in all formats this summer and has been tipped by many for a call-up to the national side for the tour of Sri Lanka this winter.
England s e l e c t or Ja m e s Taylor watched Kent’s County Championship at Lord’s this week and reportedly viewed the away game at Leicestershire earlier this season, specifically to watch Denly.
Head coach Walker said: “Without question he has the quality. He’s turned his game around. Three years ago he managed to put right a little technical thing and he’s grown up as a batter.
“I know there will always be an accusation of second team runs playing in this league but he is a quality player. He has all the attributes to be an international cricketer again.
“I know he has been talked about and that could be distracting but he just keeps going and scoring runs.
“Whether he does get on the tour or does not, it doesn’t change the fact of how well he has played this year and what a brilliant player he is.
“He is still young enough to have another stint at it, in my opinion. We will have to wait and see.”
Denly has scored 768 runs in the Championship this season, including three hundreds, and has also taken 18 wickets at an average of below 21.
He led the way for the Spitfires in the Vitality Blast competition with the most runs (409) and wickets (20).
The all-rounder hit 492 runs on Kent’s way to the Royal London One-Day Cup final and also broke a club record with his 150 not out in the group stages. He took 14 wickets during the competition.
Walker said: “We are proud of what he has done and he should be, too. Joe has become much more than a part-time spinner. He’s gained confidence this year by being bowled a lot more than in recent years.
“He’s a real threat, especially at the end of an innings. You give him the ball and it makes it hard for tailenders. He’s got a lot of important wickets.
“We haven’t been able to play an out and out spinner much this season but when you have Joe in your ranks, it gives you that anyway. It is a luxury we have now.”
Denly returned to Kent from Middlesex at the start of 2015 after three seasons at Lord’s.
He has not looked back from there and has gone on to produce some of his best seasons as a player.
Walker said: “It does happen to players when the penny drops and you get comfortable with your technique.
“You grow up and he’s had a child. He became settled when he came back here and has matured as a player. He knows his game inside out now and deals with the disappointment better.
“The great thing about Joe is that he is a multi-dimensional cricketer. He scores runs in all formats, now what he does with the ball and his fielding means he is top range.”