Willey positive about England future despite injury setback

England bowler David Willey is focusing on the positives despite a back injury ruling him out of the one-day international series with Sri Lanka as he builds up to a crucial 2019.

Willey, who has been part of England’s ODI team as they reached number one in the world, is the only notable absentee in a strong limited overs touring party to the subcontinent.

Warwickshire quick Olly Stone has gone in his place and while Willey admitted he was disappointed to miss out on the series, the Yorkshire bowler is keen to think more long term.

“It’s gutting to have been ruled out but I’m trying to think of the positives,” said Willey at the launch of the ICC Cricket World Cup Schools Programme at Lord’s.

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“I get a bit of a break to freshen myself up ready for the rest of the winter and everything next year.

“I’m hoping to be back playing competitive cricket at the end of November. I’ll be building up towards the T10 competition in Dubai and then the Big Bash after that.”

Willey played a key hand with 12 wickets across England’s ODI summer as Australia and India were both defeated, with the Three Lions unbeaten in bilateral one-day series since January 2017.

But it was perhaps his knocks with the bat that caught the eye most.

The Yorkshire bowler notably saw England to victory with a vital 35 not out in the first ODI against Australia at The Oval in June and he believes that his batting at the highest level has progressed.

Willey said: “I’ve started to make some decent contributions. I’ve had to adjust to batting down the order and, if I’m batting for a long period of time something has usually gone wrong so I’d rather not bat, but I’ve played my part when required.”

England’s abundance of seam bowling options has been highlighted by the options taken to Sri Lanka, with newcomer Stone joining Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, Tom Curran and Sam Curran.

Left-arm seamer Willey is not worried for his place, though, instead praising the strength in depth. The 28-year-old said: “I think the beauty of the side at the minute is that there is no animosity.

“If someone is performing and you’re not then, ultimately, you have to accept that you’ll miss out. It’s great to have guys competing for squads as it makes our World Cup team stronger moving forward into next year.”

England’s remarkable rise to the top of the ODI rankings over the last three years has been attributed to various factors, including captain Eoin Morgan’s leadership.

Willey, however, believes that the increasing number of England players plying their trade in franchise tournaments across the globe has also played a part.

“[Franchise cricket] has had a huge effect as we’re now being competitive away from home,” he said. “The more exposure England guys get around the world is great for English cricket and for domestic cricket too.”

The injured bowler himself enjoyed time in the Indian Premier League earlier this year with Chennai Super Kings, a period which he says helped spark a newfound enjoyment of the game.

“The IPL was brilliant,” he added. “Having the freedom to practice what I wanted, how I wanted, for as long as I wanted, with the resources there was great. I actually rediscovered my love for cricket there which is funny because I wasn’t really playing that much.”