Ball is ready to gain from Woakes pain
JAKE BALL is out to restate his World Cup credentials after coming in as a late replacement for Chris Woakes in England’s one-day squad to face Australia.
The Nottinghamshire fast bowler has his own recent experience of injury setbacks, having struggled with an ankle problem last winter in Australia.
And while offering sympathy to Woakes, who has been forced to stand down with a quad injury sustained in the second Test against Pakistan, Ball wants to put down a marker for the World Cup next summer in the five-match series against the Aussies.
“It’s not the way you want to get back in – through injury – but unfortunately that’s often how it happens,” said Ball. “Chris is a close friend of mine, and I feel for him because you never want to see a fellow bowler injured but, at the same time, I have to try to make the most of this opportunity.
“I’m obviously really pleased to get this call-up. Now I have this opportunity, it’s important that I take it – and I feel I’m in a great position to do that.”
Ball, whose winter in Australia proved hugely frustrating – playing just one Test in Brisbane before he was dropped, and one ODI – has been in fine form for Notts.
His 27 Championship wickets in the first five games this season have spearheaded Notts’ climb to the top of the Division One table.
And with a white ball in hand his 10 wickets in six Royal London One-Day Cup games have put them on the brink of the knockout stages. “I feel as if I’m bowling as well as I ever have done – certainly in the last couple of years,” said Ball. “In white-ball cricket, I feel I have matured a lot and know my game so much better.
“If the chance to play comes along, then I feel I’m in a much better space than a year ago.”
Woakes is undergoing rehab on his quad muscle injury and along with Ben Stokes, who has a left hamstring strain, is hoping to recover in time to play some part in the series that starts next Wednesday at the Oval.
The ECB have given no indication as to which games either may be targeting but Stokes was close to playing in the second Test, only failing a late fitness test on the opening day.
Both men have just shy of three weeks before the Australians depart, so should be able to play some part.
Even allowing for their absence, Ball may have his work cut out to force his way into the starting XI next Wednesday with Tom Curran, Mark Wood, David Willey and Liam Plunkett all pushing.
All-rounder Willey used the platform of Yorkshire’s Royal London Cup Roses clash against Lancashire to press his claims, with 131 runs off 121 balls and bowling figures of 4-59 in a 16-run victory.
I have to seize this chance