{"id":185906,"date":"2023-11-12T09:26:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-12T09:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/?p=185906"},"modified":"2023-11-12T09:26:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T09:26:12","slug":"englands-david-willey-quits-with-deep-regret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/sport\/englands-david-willey-quits-with-deep-regret\/","title":{"rendered":"England’s David Willey quits with ‘deep regret’"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘I’m 33, and as fit as I’ve ever been. So, one of the reasons that I wasn’t offered a contract was them going in a different direction after the World Cup.’<\/strong><\/p>\n

England’s David Willey took the decision to quit international cricket with “deep regret”, the seamer said after his team’s consolation victory over Pakistan at the World Cup on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Willey, the only member of the England ODI squad not offered a central contract last month, announced his retirement in the middle of England’s dismal run of form in India.<\/p>\n

Their title defence long over, England finished their campaign with a comprehensive victory and the 33-year-old Willey took the player-of-the-match award in his international swansong for his bowling figures of 3-56.<\/p>\n

Willey finished the tournament with 11 wickets from six matches. Among his team mates, only Adil Rashid claimed more — 15 from nine games.<\/p>\n

“My time is done because I’ve called time on it, but it’s with deep regret,” a visibly emotional Willey told reporters at Eden Gardens.<\/p>\n

“I think anybody looking in has probably looked at the way I’ve gone about my business and probably playing the best cricket of my career.<\/p>\n

“I’m 33, and as fit as I’ve ever been. So, one of the reasons that I wasn’t offered a contract was them going in a different direction after the World Cup.”<\/p>\n

Holders England suffered six defeats in their first seven matches to crash out of the semi-final race, prompting demands for a complete overhaul of their ODI squad.<\/p>\n

“Being told that they’re likely to go in a different direction after the World Cup, I think that was the final nail in the coffin for me,” Willey said.<\/p>\n

“My situation with England has always been, I know I’m on the fringe. I’m next in if there’s an injury, very much a squad player.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been very much at peace with that, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy to be in that position, never knowing where you stand from tour to tour.”<\/p>\n

Willey said he would have loved to be part of England’s title defence at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies next year.<\/p>\n

“I think I could still have played a part in that World Cup,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I feel like I’m probably playing my best cricket…and like I’ve just touched on not knowing quite where I stand with England and it’s just taken its toll and becomes very tiring.”<\/p>\n