TOPLEY FINDS HIS RHYTHM FOR ENGLAND
THE return of ODI cricket has been music to the ears of the ECB money men – and if they want someone to provide a theme tune, Reece Topley might top the bill. Before this summer, the Surrey man’s most recent one-day cap came in 2016.After four years in the international wilderness, the chances of him adding to his 10 ODI and six T20 appearances looked remote.
But now he is back in England’s plans and played in yesterday’s second ODI against Ireland at Southampton, which means his recent musical exploits are taking a backseat for now.
He said: “I have quite a lot of other things that interest me outside cricket, which has been pretty useful this summer.
“I was locked out of my drum studio in Peckham, so I took up the ukulele. I’ve been doing that, doing a lot of studying and trying to view a lot of houses too.
“I’m so-so musically but it’s just nice to have a creative outlet.at school you always have things to be creative with and then that gets curtailed, so I took it upon myself to get creative again.
“The drums are easy to play if you can’t read music. If you’ve got some basic co-ordination, then you’re halfway there.”
Topley has been on England’s radar since bursting into the Essex side at the age of just 17 in 2011.
A member of England’s squad at
DAVID HAYE has warned Oleksandr Usyk he has picked the wrong opponent in Dereck Chisora.
They are now set to meet in October for what will be former cruiserweight world champion Usyk’s second fight at heavyweight after his victory over American Chazzwetherspoon last October.
Usyk believes a win over ‘Del Boy’ will catapult him towards his target of becoming a two-weight world champion but Haye, Chisora’s manager, said: “I think Usyk has picked someone who is too heavy a puncher. I’m hoping they have made a gross miscalculation.
“Dereck is very difficult to beat – only the very best can do it. Usyk believes the T20 World Cup in 2015, Topley threatened to be a bowler who would never reach his full potential.
Having impressed with
Sussex last summer before joining Surrey on a two-year deal back in October,topley now has the chance to play a major role for his country in the shortest formats again.and it’s one he’s prepared to grasp with both hands.
“I had the chance to go and play in some T20 leagues this winter. I turned that down so I could try to be fresh for Surrey in the first game of the year,” he says.
“Had I known what was going to happen, I would have gone and played in them!
“To be honest, it was just a relief to get stuck into cricket again. I hadn’t ever given up on England.
“If I’m fit, then I know I’m good enough. I know I’m not the best in the world but I know where I am with my cricket.
“I’ve been told before that I’m the next man when it comes to England squads. Getting into a team who are world champions is never going to be easy, I completely accept that.
“There is so much talent in the Test and ODI sides. I know I need to break into a team who are world champions and that will be no mean feat. But everyone has and push everyone for a spot.” he’s significantly better but it’s a weight category that he is not acclimatised to.
“He’s not had pressure put on him like Dereck can put on him, and can he be mentally and physically prepared for that?
“It’s a different sport altogether (heavyweight). There’s a reason why myself and Evander Holyfield are the only guys in history to make that transition.”
STEVIE WARD claims his life “sucks” because of the injury hell that rules him out of Super League’s restart today.
The Leeds captain has no idea when he’ll be fit to play because a head injury six months ago still rules out full training.
That in turn leads to mood swings and the 26-year-old, whose side face Huddersfield this evening, said: “I feel a bit useless because I can’t fully partake. I am doing everything I can but that doesn’t make it any better. I know that I have to accept what I’m feeling.”
The Rhinos’ game concludes today’s Headingley double-header after champions St Helens face Catalans Dragons.