David Willey, the left-arm pace all-rounder for England, has disclosed that he believed his career in international cricket had come to an end after he was omitted from the squad that won the 2019 World Cup, and the only reason he didn’t consider it over was the Covid-19 pandemic.
Willey was a last-minute exclusion from England’s squad for the prestigious event held at home, with Jofra Archer chosen in his place. Archer played a crucial role in England’s World Cup victory, delivering the Super Over that secured the trophy in a thrilling final at Lord’s.
Reflecting on that period, Willey stated, “If it wasn’t for Covid, I probably thought that my England career was done. They selected two squads (for Test matches in Manchester and one-dayers in Southampton) to stay in bubbles.”
Advertisement
However, Willey made a successful comeback to the national team since then. He has taken 36 wickets at an impressive average of 22.19 and has been a valuable contributor with both bat and fielding in the lead-up to the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup in India, where he is part of the provisional 15-man squad.
Advertisement
The disappointment of missing out on the World Cup at home has left a lasting impact on Willey. He believes that facing such a setback has made him more resilient and better equipped to handle challenges in his cricket career and beyond. “I’d have probably given my left arm to be a part of that. I think anything that happens to me in cricket now is never going to be as bad as that. As my career in the game goes on, and whatever I do after, I think that’s probably a difficult but great experience for me to have – hopefully it can serve me well in other areas of my life.”
Regarding Jofra Archer’s potential return to the squad, Willey expressed hope that he won’t have to face a similar scenario to what happened before the 2019 World Cup. “He looks in a good place. I don’t know where he is at, fitness-wise, but he was bowling with good wheels out there today. Everyone knows how good he is, what he’s capable of and how he can impact games. So to have him close, or not far away from being fit, is fantastic news.”
Willey remains focused on performing for England and contributing to victories, regardless of the selection decisions. He stated, “Things change, and if it changes for me, it’s nothing I haven’t been through before. I’m going to go out there and perform, try to win games of cricket for England. It’s not my job to decide who goes on the plane.”
-IANS
Advertisement
