The world was startled to learn that English all-rounder David Willey was quitting international cricket. Willey made a fantastic showing in his last international match at the 2023 ODI World Cup against Pakistan. He even won Player of the Match for his elegant bowling against the Men in Green.
After the match, David Willey spoke up about his retirement, saying he was enjoying the finest cricket of his career and that the only reason he was leaving was because the team wanted to use their current roster in a different way.
Willey talked about his sadness in giving up international cricket and said that, at 33, he is as fit as he can be. But he was unable to set aside his decision to retire because the national team did not extend a contract to him.
I mean, I’ve called it quits, so my time is over, but I believe I did it with great remorse. I believe that anyone who has been inside has seen how I’ve conducted myself and has likely witnessed me play some of my greatest cricket. At 33, I’m in the best shape of my life. “I don’t know why, but they went in a different direction after the World Cup, which is one of the reasons I wasn’t offered a contract,” David Willey stated in the news conference following the game.
That World Cup is still something I could be a part of: David Willey
The 33-year-old all-rounder continued by saying that he might participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will take place in the USA and the West Indies. But Willey had to end his international career because the other side wanted to go in a different route.
“I believe that after the World Cup, they’re probably going to take a different course. That, I believe, was the last straw for me. They’re going to be calling on someone with very little to no World Cup experience, but I think I could still be involved in that World Cup even with one or two injuries. Thus, to sum up, “I think I could have still contributed to that World Cup,” Willey stated.
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