Archer’s target is England
Ashton was flying in 2011 but England’s nightmare tournament ended Johnson’s era in charge and the rejuvenated wing admits he has unfinished business ABC GUIDE TO FOUR RACE MEETINGS
CHRIS ASHTON has revealed ‘unfinished business’ with the World Cup which is fuelling his England comeback mission.
The Sale winger finally makes his Premiership debut for Sharks at Bath on Sunday having shaken off the injury which sidelined him against Australia.
An early-season ban means, incredibly, he has played three times more for his country since joining his new club, who have struggled without him – and he is vowing to make amends.
On the one hand to revive the fortunes of Sale, who last won a trophy in 2006. Secondly, as delivering week-in week-out is what it will take for him to keep his England place through to the World Cup.
Ashton said: “Having taken so long to get back in, and knowing how hard it was to get there, this is not something I plan on letting get away from me again.”
Mention of the World Cup makes him shudder at the thought of his one experience, England’s scandal-hit 2011 tournament.
“I was joint top tryscorer but it is not a memory I cherish,” said Ashton of a calamitous campaign on and off the pitch which culminated in the leaking of a damning internal report – and to boss Martin Johnson (above) quitting.
“The way the whole tournament went, and its aftermath, was a disaster. To see an absolute legend leaving his job in the way he did, ah man… Definitely unfinished business there for me.”
Ashton, 31, thought he would not get another shot until Eddie Jones intimated that abandoning his exile in France for his native North-West would re-open the door.
Sure enough he played in England’s first three autumn Tests, starting and scoring against the All Blacks. “I’d forgotten how much it meant to me because it had been so long,” he said. “You try to convince yourself you don’t need it in your life any more. That you’ve been there and done it. “Then I was back out there, singing the anthem with all my family in the stands, and it was like, ‘Wow…this is what I’ve missed. This is where I need to be’.”
Ashton has parked that for now. This weekend is all about Sale.
“We need to get better, we want to be top six,” he said.
“And there’s no reason that can’t happen.” SUSSEX pace bowling all-rounder Jofra Archer will make a late bid to be a part of England’s World Cup plans after the ECB relaxed their qualification criteria.
Instead of waiting seven years for the Barbadosborn player to qualify for England on residency grounds, it will take just three years after the ECB made their move in line with ICC regulations.
It means that the 23-year-old global T20 star will be available to play under Eoin Morgan from March onwards.
England’s one-dayer against Ireland in Dublin to open the season on May 3 is his likely debut.
Archer had hoped to make it to the West Indies with England in February to make his bow in front of family and friends.
But he must wait a few more qualifying days before he can light up the international stage the way he has in the Big Bash and the IPL where his 90 mph bowling has captured the imagination.
Even though he has played Under-19 cricket for the West Indies, they did not select him for the World Cup four years ago.
That prompted Archer to follow fellow Bajan Chris Jordan to Sussex – and a shot at the Three Lions.