Payne eyes a return to the red-ball game JOIN THE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL REVOLUTION
GLOUCESTERSHIRE pace bowler David Payne is set to take the field at Kidderminster this weekend as he bids to play a part in the county’s red-ball campaign this summer.
Payne, 33, has not played a Championship game since September 2022, and had ankle surgery in March 2023, since when he has been restricted to T20 Blast games, and outings in the Hundred for Welsh Fire, and the Big Bash in Australia with Perth Scorchers, and this winter with Adelaide Strikers.
The one-cap England ODI left-armer signed a new three-year contract last September - a ‘mainly white ball’ deal, and he insists the door is not closed on a red-ball return.
“It has been a really challenging couple of years, I have not really felt myself in my bowling for that time,” Payne admitted.
“It has been a really tough mental battle and for the first time this winter as I have been building up I am starting to feel like myself again.
“My ankle is feeling strong and the big thing is how hard I hit the bat and the pace and I feel like I am starting to get that back and that’s the most exciting thing.
With the contract, ‘mainly white ball’ is definitely the right word - the door is very much still open for red ball, we’ve just changed it so it is red ball match payments as opposed to being contracted to play red ball.
“I think that was part of the pressures and stresses of the past couple of years with the ankle being as it has, so now this year feels much better for both sides.
“I feel much more in control and don’t feel guilty if I am having to say it’s not bearing up to bowling 20 overs and Mark (new head coach Mark Alleyne) has been really understanding of that.
“From his perspective he is hoping I can play a couple of games in this first couple of months and that is what we have been trying to build up to.”
That starts at Kidderminster, with a Second XI Championship game against Worcestershire starting tomorrow, and Payne said: “I am very open-minded, I am seeing how it goes and hopefully it all holds up but if it doesn’t I feel that I have control with this new contract to be able to say no, it’s not okay at the moment
“We know my ankle can hold up well with four overs, and we have been going off the full run in an indoor centre in Gloucester, and I did a five-over spell, had a hit for an hour and then came back to bowl a couple of overs at the end to try and test what it’s like after a break.
“That pulled up really well. There’s a little bit of niggle sometimes but the real test will be the pre-season games this weekend.
“I think I’ll be in Kidderminster against Worcestershire and I’d like to do a whole day in the field and try to bowl two or three spells coming back.
“Not only will it test how it does on that day, it’ll be how it is waking up the next day - this feels like the exam after a long winter to see where it’s at.”
In Australia, Payne helped the Strikers to the knockout stage of the tournament, and felt his ankle got stronger as the tournament went on.
“Personally and as a team - it was another really enjoyable experience,” said Payne.
“The ankle stood up well. It was a little bit of a test and it seemed to get better and better as it went on which is nice, and it’s been the same with training after I got back.
“At the very beginning there were little bits of soreness but by the end there was nothing, and even the rest of my body felt fantastic out in Australia.
“I came back with really high hopes but we are just going to monitor everything really closely.
“With the new contract I have control over my career and not let too many people down with decisions if I can’t play red ball cricket, and myself and Mark are going to be really clear with communication and just take it day by day.”