The line of questioning at Surrey’s pre-season media day is getting a little awkward, to put it mildly, even before April has arrived. However, Dan Worrall is handling everything calmly, just as he has handled every moment of his incredible comeback as a professional cricket player. With a fair crosswind and some grass on the pitch, this comeback may lead to an England Test debut at the age of 33.
“I may just make an announcement about my retirement abroad. then everyone can return home.”
Rob Key, the director of cricket for England, undoubtedly conveyed that impression in September of last year when he named-checked a bowler who had just taken 52 wickets at 16.15 to help Surrey win a hat-trick of County Championship titles. Key remarked, “You can’t not notice Dan Worrall,” “He’s got brilliant attributes to be an international bowler.”
However, Worrall himself was little less affected by the conjecture. “There’s some things that take space in my head, but this is not one of them,” he stated. “I simply don’t care about what other people think or say. I simply want to give the team I represent my best effort. Since I have two children under three, I must admit that this keeps me occupied most of the time. Therefore, the other things are irrelevant.
Worrall made his debut as an international cricket player in September and October of 2016, playing three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for Australia against South Africa and Ireland. It has now been nearly nine years since then. After taking one wicket and feeling like he had crossed something off his professional checklist, he began thinking about moving to England and starting a new life, whether or not cricket was the main focus.
“I always thought I’d be getting the tube to work in London, but I never thought I’d be coming to a cricket ground,” Worrall stated. Following an initial haul of 43 wickets at 22.53 for Gloucestershire, which demonstrated the efficacy of his fast-medium methods in English conditions, he was encouraged to take the risk and move his young family to the UK by his father, who was born in Nottingham. However, his move to The Oval has since sent his career into overdrive.
“With no family nearby, we simply felt that it was an amazing adventure to take on, gain some life experience, and push ourselves a little bit on the other side of the planet. Fortunately, though, I’ve played at a fantastic club, and we’ve won three titles. The Hundred’s just happened. Another advantage of relocating is having access to leagues worldwide.
However, Worrall’s red-ball form has been the mainstay of his new career. He claimed 139 first-class wickets at 21.17 during those three successful seasons, and since England cut ties with James Anderson last summer, there may be a need for a “sweat-band seamer” in the Test attack, at least for the home series against India, if not for the upcoming tour of Australia.
“As a bowler, coming from Australia to England, there’s a lot more variables to play with,” he stated. “You must swing it.” It bounces occasionally, doesn’t occasionally, and occasionally rains. The pitch is grassy and sunny. I guess there are a lot more factors that might make your worst day much worse than it would be in Australia because of the Kookaburra [ball].
“As a professional, my crowning achievement would be reaching a stage where my performance no longer surprises people. in order for your worst day to not be significantly worse than your finest day.
But can those qualities hold up on an Ashes tour? Worrall’s own appraisal is frank, even in light of Scott Boland’s recent success in Australia’s home summers.
“You want my truthful response? Most likely not!” he exclaimed. You won’t play that role in every Test match with the Kookaburra ball as a swing bowler, even though Jimmy played on multiple Ashes tours for 20 years. In recent years, there have been opportunities in Test matches in Australia that have been a little more seamer-friendly, but it remains to be seen if that will occur again in an Ashes series. We’ll wait and see, but perhaps there is a job as a sweat-band swinger.”
Worrall obviously has the background to perform that role in Australia, having taken 184 wickets at 29.03 for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield in his previous career. He is unsure of which qualities England should focus on more as they aim to win a series in Australia for the first time in fifteen years, regardless of whether he is doing himself a disservice for the upcoming winter.
“There aren’t many factors to consider in Australia. Being tall, quick, or precise is more important,” he stated. “England’s fast-bowling cartel setup is the best strategy for winning in Australia.
“Mark Wood, Gus [Atkinson], and Brydon Carse have all shown success, and I believe they’re attempting to get Jofra [Archer] up and about for that Ashes series. I don’t think anyone is hiding the fact that pace and bounce are essential in Australia.
“For the past 10 years, the Australian side has taken wickets regularly by using players who are taller than six feet two and bowl quickly without missing the mark. That differential presents a challenge for English bowlers traveling to Australia, of course, but the way the players are arranging themselves now provides them the best chance to produce.”
All of that does not, however, imply that Dan Worrall will decline the England summons should it materialize at any point this year.
He responded, “Yeah, of course, I’ve said it before,” when asked if he intended to play for his adopted nation. “I haven’t given it any thought. The others are always discussing it. I’m just going to go out there and give it my all for Surrey with the hopes of having another great season at The Oval.
“I’m not very bothered about it. As a professional athlete, it’s just one of those situations where there are always people with opinions and those who want to make the next news or figure out what will happen next in their career.
However, I believe that as a player, the moment you begin to consider that and allow it to enter your mind, it simply diminishes your potential as a player, professional, and individual. As a result, I’m not really concerned. Whatever occurs, it will happen. No matter where I am, I’ll do my best.”
India
