Matt’s Christmas comes early with Test call
HAVING just arrived back from New Zealand, Matthew Parkinson has had to get his Christmas shopping in early.
For no sooner has the Lancashire spinner landed back in Blighty after his first England tour, than he is preparing to head off on his second.
Parkinson jets to South Africa with the squad today. And he has his eye on a Christmas present of his own – a first Test cap.
“I was hoping I had done enough to get picked,” Parkinson said.
“I wanted to train hard to show them I am good enough to be there and worth taking to South
Africa. Mo ( Moeen Ali) is a world-class cricketer and someone who has performed for England for a number of years, but if he is not around it gives a chance to other spinners, which is probably why I have been selected.
“These things happen in sport, it is up to me know to take that chance if it comes. Playing in any Test for England would be very special, but there is a different hype around the Boxing Day matches and if it is my first one then it would be a special week.”
Parkinson certainly impressed on the T20 leg of the New Zealand tour, taking a wicket with his fifth ball on his debut and then taking four wickets in his second game.
And although he didn’t get to play in either of the two Tests, he got more than a flavour of what international cricket is all about.
“I feel like I have put a bit of a benchmark down there for future selection in T20,” he said.
“Then to do enough without actually playing to get selected for the South Africa trip, shows I did something right.
“It is tough when you are not playing, any player will tell you that.
“But being in that environment with those players meant I improved my game.”