Powerful Willey could be a danger
THE England side the Proteas are set to face in today’s first of five one-day internationals in Bloemfontein bears almost no resemblance to the one selected when these teams last met back in 2012.
Besides the fact that the personnel have been drastically overhauled, with only captain Eoin Morgan remaining from that drawn series in the United Kingdom, the visitors have revamped their playing style so spectacularly too that they are almost unrecognisable. Dublin-born Morgan now leads a side that plays without fear and bristles with aggression.
And while the sceptics initially believed it was merely a knee-jerk reaction to another disastrous World Cup effort last year, even the most ardent critics have now been won over through series victories over World Cup finalists New Zealand ( home) and Pakistan (away). Even a narrow defeat to world champions Australia was met with excitement due to Morgan and his merry men sticking to an ultra-adventurous style of play.
A large part of the success achieved has been due to Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss handpicking the players who not only have faith in the new system, but also possess the skills to execute their duties under pressure. Charismatic all-rounder Ben Stokes has already provided some exhilarating highlights during the Test series, and there are many who believe David Willey can have a similar matchchanging effect over the course of the next five ODIs and subsequent T20s.
Willey, who moved to Yorkshire from Northamptonshire at the end of last summer, is an all-action cricketer who excels in the shorter formats. Although still an international rookie – Willey had played only 10 ODIs and four T20s before this trip – the 25-year-old has shown enough of his ability already, especially with the ball, to be one of Morgan’s “go-to-guys”.
Having the benefit of being a left-armer, Willey is a genuine threat with the new ball. He has claimed 18 wickets at 24.22 thus far in his ODI career, and having a strike-bowler with an economy rate of just 5.51 is an even greater bonus for any captain.
“David can swing the new white ball prodigiously,” says former Proteas seamer Rory Kleinveldt, who played with Willey at Northants last season. “Obviously him being left-arm gives the England attack extra variation, but the threat he poses is that he is able to swing the ball both ways. He also has the skills to pick up wickets during the middle overs while he is also very dangerous at the back end of the innings with his big variety of slower balls and cutters,” Kleinveldt said.
But like Stokes, Willey – son of former England international and ICC elite panel umpire Peter Willey – has more than one arrow in his quiver. He is also an explosive batsman who opened the innings with great success for his former county. A 27-ball 60, which he backed up with a hat-trick, propelled Northants to the NatWest T20 Blast title back in 2013, while he spanked a 40-ball century in the T20 Blast quarter-finals last season.
With Willey having gained the extra experience of playing for the Perth Scorchers in this year’s Big Bash, Kleinveldt believes the Proteas should be on high alert.
“David is unlikely to bat as high up for England as he batted for us, but he remains an extremely dangerous player. He is just so explosive at the crease and really hits a long ball,” he said.
“He’s the type of guy that you can’t keep out of the game. Whether it is with bat, ball or in the field he is someone who is always looking to make a play. David is arguably one of the best fielders in England too. He loves the big moments and the big stage and usually keeps his best for just those occasions.”