Willey: I’m white man for this form of cricket
Thornley’s alone..but she can still ask for help PROMOTED DAVID HAS TO MAKE ONE-DAY ROLE HIS OWN Gayle back to open for Windies
DAVID Willey is determined to take the second chance England have given him to prove he is the white-ball wicket-taker they need.
England dispensed with Willey’s services in the Champions Trophy this summer, but have promoted him back ahead of Jake Ball in the Royal London Series against the West Indies.
His brief is simple - take wickets by swinging the new ball - as spelled out by captain Eoin Morgan after the second match of five was a near washout at Trent Bridge.
As England bid to double their lead in Bristol today, Willey is on message about what he must do.
“I want to make that position my own,” said the 27-year-old, who is averaging just over one wicket per match after 30 ODIs but mustered only two in four this summer. “Fingers crossed, I can come out and bowl well tomorrow and get a couple of wickets early - which is what they want from me.” Willey’s role is one he has long been accustomed to, in what can be a brief window of opportunity before the white ball becomes less receptive to swing. “Sometimes it doesn’t work, and I think earlier on in the year I struggled to get the ball swinging,” he added. “As a result, I lost my place in the side and didn’t play through the Champions Trophy. “But I’ve got an opportunity now to get back out there and hope to cement my place with the new ball.” He knows Morgan will not be listening to any excuses either, after the captain’s remarks in Nottingham. “He’s a swing bowler, so it’s his job to swing it,” said the Irishman. “If he doesn’t get the conditions, he still has to find a way to take wickets.” Willey often knows soon CHRIS Gayle will be back to open for West Indies against England in the third Royal London Series match.
The destructive opener missed the second match of five at Trent Bridge on his 38th birthday, after feeling a twinge in his right hamstring in the warm-up.
Scans on the problem indicated no serious issue, however, and two days later Gayle was fit to take part in West Indies nets.
Captain Jason Holder confirmed the big-hitting left-hander will be back to take on England again in Bristol today, as the tourists bid to battle back from 1-0 down. “I think Chris is good to go,” said enough if it is going to be his day - with the white ball highly vulnerable to a blow or two in the wrong direction.
“A couple of hits on the square or the boundary boards and it just seems to stop it swinging,” he said.
“It’s a precious time, and if you can get a couple of wickets it can make it a lot easier.”
Mark Wood joined England at nets as Holder. “I think the last game (off) was more precautionary than anything else, and he seems to be raring to go.
“It’s good to have him back, and we hope we can have him for the duration of the series.”
Gayle gave England a brief demonstration in the series opener at Old Trafford that his power-hitting remains undiminished after his spell out of the one-day international team during a breakdown in negotiations with the West Indies board.
“He definitely brings a lot to the team, a wealth of experience, and his record speaks for itself,” added Holder. he tries to resume his comeback from the heel injury which has limited him to one match over the last two months.
It is hoped the fast bowler may be able to play for Durham against Worcestershire in next week’s final round of Specsavers County Championship matches, which begin two days before England announce their squad for this winter’s Ashes.