Denly happy to step back for ‘pinnacle of his career’
Joe Denly had no qualms when Joe Root pulled rank on him to claim the No 3 spot in England’s Ashes line-up and expects the first Test at Edgbaston to be the pinnacle of his career.
Captain Root approached head coach Trevor Bayliss after last week’s Ireland Test and volunteered to reclaim the key position.
Bayliss has long been keen for Root to accept the responsibility and he has now shelved his concerns in a bid to bolster a top order that has too often looked light on both runs and experience.
As a result, Denly will move down a place in tomorrow’s series opener against Australia, his third different slot in four appearances at the highest level.
Far from feeling slighted, the 33-year-old was merely happy to hear he would be part of the team that will lead England’s battle to reclaim the urn.
“Rooty rang me the other day and told me he wanted to bat number three and wanted me to go four. It was as simple as that,” he said.
“He just wants to get involved in the game, get up there and out in the middle, and hopefully get a lot of runs. I don’t think there’s any more to it than that.
“I wasn’t too fussed really where I was batting, it’s just great to be in that XI. I’ve batted at four before when playing for Kent and throughout my career, so it wasn’t really a big issue, I’m just happy to be playing.
“I’m really excited to get going in what will probably be the highlight of my career.”
Taking the field against Australia is sure to be a moment of huge significance for Denly, who is experiencing a second chance at international level that once appeared highly unlikely.
His first brief taste came a decade ago as a limited-overs specialist and for most of the intervening period he was a long shot to return to England colours.
An upturn in form over the past couple of years, coupled with the faith of national selector Ed Smith – his former team-mate at Kent – has changed the story. “Everyone from a young age dreams of playing in an Ashes series and to finally get that chance, being quite an old campaigner, I’m certainly excited and up for the challenge,” he said.
“There’s no doubt that the Australian bowling line-up is one of the best in the world. They have all bases covered really and, as a top-order batter, that is where you want to be: testing yourself against the best.
“It took me a while to get back to any kind of form when I got dropped all those years ago. I went missing for two or three years, with all my focus on trying to get back in the England side.
“In recent years I’ve enjoyed my cricket a lot more. Did I see myself playing in Ashes series? Probably not, but this week is going to be a very proud moment and a very special occasion for me and my family.”
Denly’s appreciation of the chance in front of him is understandable, particularly given how close he came to making England’s triumphant World Cup squad. He was named in the provisional 15 but replaced at the last minute by Liam Dawson, who did not play a game.
“I think it was the right decision,” he said. “I thought it might happen and it was a great opportunity for me to go back and play some redball cricket with Kent and get some good form going into this series.
“That was a bit of a blessing in disguise, being able to spend some time out in the middle, get a few big scores and go into this series feeling confident.” Australia coach Justin Langer believes an Ashes return for Cameron Bancroft would be “a great story” but knows it is likelytogodownbadlywith England fans.
Bancroft is in line to open the batting in tomorrow’s series opener at Edgbaston, joining Steve Smith and David Warner as Australia prepare to select all three players who were banned over the ball-tampering scandal.
Smith and Warner have alreadyexperiencedplenty of boos and jeers from the stands during the World Cup, but the addition of the man who actively scratched the surface of the ball – and subsequently lied about it – is likely to up the ante again.
“It would be a great story if he comes back into the team. His development after what happened in Cape Town has been extraordinary,” said Langer.
“We know what the reception is going to be. We don’t know [how he will cope], but we’ll find out. He’s a good kid and as tough as anyone you could meet. To endure the scrutiny of the past 14 months, especially the first part of it, I think he’s had a pretty good dress rehearsal.” Langer confirmed Usman Khawaja had passed his final fitness check following hamstring trouble and will take his place in the XI. James Pattinson also looks certain to play his first Test since February 2016, lining up alongside Pat Cummins and one of Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle or Josh Hazlewood.