Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Coles for England!
WALKER CLAIMS BOWLER IS ONE OF ‘He’s got everything, including a heart as big as anyone’s’ THE BEST IN COUNTRY
Matt Walker is backing Kent fast bowler Matt Coles to earn an England call-up this winter.
Kent’s assistant coach rates Coles as one of the best players around and says the county will do all they can to push his claims for international honours.
Coles took 10 wickets in Kent’s LV= County Championship, Division 2 win at Leicestershire this week.
He’s the second leading wickettaker in the country with 52 victims.
Walker accepts an Ashes call-up is unrealistic but believes Coles deserves a chance this winter.
He said: “I know you talk up your own but we know what he can do.
“There are no shortcuts to England recognition. He’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing and force his way into the selectors’ thinking.
“Everyone rates him and before long, people will be talking about him because he’s been doing it all season. If he finishes the season as well, who knows what might happen?
“He might get some trip with the ECB. I think he’s grown up a lot this year.
“He’s had his problems off the field but in terms of cricket and as a bloke, you couldn’t ask for someone better in the dressing room.
“I’m sure England have their squad players for the Ashes and one-dayers and to break in at this stage is going to be pretty tricky.
“I’d imagine if anything’s going to happen it will be towards the end of the season when the squads are discussed for Lions trips or England trips.
“To me, he’s one of the best bowlers in the country and I include Division 1 bowlers.
“He has good one-day attributes, he bashes the ball out of the park and he’s one of the best slip catchers around.
“He’s got everything, including a heart as big as anyone’s and he’s one of the most talented young cricketers in the country.
“If England want to talk to us about him, we’ll push his case as far as we can.”
Kent return to Natwest T20 Blast action with two games in three days.
Somerset are the visitors to Canterbury tomorrow (Friday, 7pm), followed by a trip to Gloucestershire on Sunday (2.30pm).
Spitfires lead the South Group with four matches to play and are looking good for a quarter-final spot. Walker said: “Confidence is sky-high and so it should be because we’ve played brilliantly in that competition.
“It’s all about moving on to the next game but we’re playing with such confidence, style and belief.
“I’ve played in sides who’ve won it or gone close to winning it and the performances I’ve seen this season are as good as anything I’ve been involved with.”
Kent are back in County Championship action at Surrey on Monday.