GOLDEN CHANCE
With Hales dropped in disgrace, James Vince is determined to finally grab his...
James Vince showed timing commensurate with a man who possesses one of the sweetest cover drives in cricket when he made 190 for Hampshire the day it emerged alex Hales had failed a drugs test.
Vince looks certain to be the beneficiary of Hales’s stupidity by replacing him in england’s final World cup squad on may 21 and is also a strong contender to bat at the top of the order in the ashes later this summer.
it is a golden opportunity for a gifted cricketer who has failed to do justice to his rich talent in 13 Test and eight one- day international appearances, but who now, at 28, is perfectly placed to establish himself.
‘Yes, that was pretty good timing,’ said Vince yesterday as he contemplated the impact of the 190 against Gloucestershire that confirmed him as the obvious replacement for Hales, initially in england’s squad for the five-match series against Pakistan.
‘if alex was here now i don’t think i would be, but i don’t want to say too much about his situation,’ added Vince on his home ground of the ageas Bowl in the build-up to today’s second one- day international. ‘What it has done is give me the chance to push my case.’
Vince has begun what must surely be his best and last opportunity with england as back-up opener and looks set to miss out today, with Jason Roy back in training
yesterday after hamstring and back injuries. But a batsman who was unlucky to miss out on a regular place at the start of england’s white-ball revolution four years ago will surely be needed at some stage of the World cup.
‘it’s the nature of the way the white-ball side has gone over the last three or four years,’ said Vince. ‘They’ve played some magnificent cricket and got to no 1 in the world, so it’s been a tough team to break into. When i have played it’s been to pop in for a game knowing when the main guys are fit i’d be out again unless i did something remarkable.
‘all i can do is try to force my way into becoming a regular in the squad and then take my chances.’
Vince, who could be temporarily released by england to play for Hampshire in their Royal London cup semi- final tomorrow, made 76 in his last Test appearance against new Zealand in christchurch 18 months ago but was left out last summer.
now, with england still looking to reinforce their Test top three, Vince is back on their radar when attention switches to the ashes, having moved himself up the Hampshire order.
‘i had a chat with Joe Root and ed smith before the summer to see what would give me the best chance of getting back into the Test side,’ said the Hampshire captain. ‘The feedback i got, especially from ed, was the higher up i batted for Hampshire the better.
‘With Jimmy adams retiring, too, it’s a good fit to open and facing the new ball is not too different to three. it’s a mental thing, walking out at the start of the innings.’
Roy’s return is one of two expected england changes today after the first-match Oval washout, with a fit-again moeen ali coming back for Joe Denly.
Liam Dawson, named by coach Trevor Bayliss earlier this week as a World cup contender, was training with Hampshire at the ageas Bowl yesterday, but also joined in an england spin session.
clearly Vince is not the only Hampshire man who has every chance of making england’s final World cup squad.