Playing with a clear mind
Joe Denly admits disappointment with England nearly a decade ago has helped him deal with his World Cup omission. Having been dropped in the run-up to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, the Kent vicecaptain was also left out of his country’s final squad for this year’s 50-over showpiece.
Rather than fixate on the setback, the 33-year-old is instead embracing his time back at Canterbury in preparation for a potential Ashes spot.
Denly said: “What I learnt from being involved with England 10 years ago and being dropped was that my main focus then was just to get back into the England team as quickly as possible.
“I heaped too much pressure on myself and my performances dipped, I almost went missing for two or three years. Looking back on that, it was important not to dwell on (missing out on the World Cup this year) too much.
“I was kind of expecting it in terms of the balance of the team they wanted for the World Cup. I think it made sense in their selection.
“I haven’t moved on, I want to get back in that side and be ready if there are any injuries. But I accept their selection and I’m happy to be back playing with the Kent boys and enjoying my cricket.”
Denly was restricted to a spot at seven in the batting order during England’s 4-0 series win over Pakistan earlier this year, scoring 17 on his sole innings before being left out of the final ODI.
He added: “Coming away I think that was my only disappointment – not getting that opportunity to bat a little higher and stake my claim for that spare batting spot, and I suppose put James Vince under a bit of pressure there as well.
“It would have been nice in one of the games against Pakistan to be moved up the order whether it be opening or batting at three to really stake a claim there.” A stop-start period for Denly following his return from the IPL was greeted by an emphatic turn in fortune when he struck an unbeaten 167 during Kent’s 285-win over Nottinghamshire at Tunbridge Wells. His top score in the five previous innings was just 20.
Denly said: “Having come back into the side after the winter and not really contribute for the first couple of games as I’d have liked to, time in the middle at Tunbridge Wells was important. “It was important not just to get a hundred but to get a big hundred.
It’s always important as a batter, you’re not always going to score runs but when you get the opportunity, try and go big to make it count – so it was pleasing to be able to do that.
“I’ve felt pretty good for the last two or three years in terms of the way I’m hitting the ball, I think as you get older and the more experienced you become you understand your game a lot better.
“For me, it’s just doing those little things off the pitch and preparing as well as I can mentally and getting myself in the best frame of mind going into each game.
“I think everybody dreams of playing in an Ashes series, of course that’s in the back of every English cricketer’s mind this year. I was delighted to get some runs last week and hopefully that can continue and my name can be spoken about in those selection meetings.”
Kent’s win at The Nevill Ground ended a four-game winless run in the Specsavers County Championship.
Denly is in no doubt that the squad have got what it takes to steer clear of relegation.
“Obviously I missed the first part of the season and most of the one-day campaign but in terms of red ball cricket I think we’ve certainly competed in all the games,” admitted Denly.
“Barring Somerset the other week, we’ve been in positions to kick on and win games of cricket which has been encouraging, we just haven’t been able to maintain that level of performance over four days.
“We’re not in a bad place in Division 1 and we are very confident about maintaining our Division 1 status.”