Willey earns England call-up

David Willey has been named in the England one-day squad to play Ireland.
David WilleyDavid Willey
David Willey

The Northamptonshire all-rounder has been in fine form since the start of the season and registered his maiden LV= County Championship century in the opening game against Gloucestershire.

However, it has always been his limited-overs skills which have attracted most attention and he has now been rewarded with a call-up to the national ranks.

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Willey, whose father Peter played 26 Test matches and the same number of one-day internationals for his country, said: ““I am obviously delighted and honoured to receive the call as it has been a life-long ambition to wear an England shirt.

“I have worked so hard with training and on my fitness over the winter so it is great to be rewarded so early on during the season.

Cricket is my passion so to play for my home county and be recognised by my country is the ultimate accolade.

“The fact that I’m following in my Dad’s footsteps makes it even sweeter”.

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Northamptonshire head coach David Ripley added: “We are really proud that David’s immense talent and hard work has been acknowledged by the ECB.

“Everyone in the changing-room will be wishing him luck and following his progress.”

The match will take place in Dublin on May 8 and Willey is one of six new faces in the squad.

He is joined by Kent’s wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings, Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory, Surrey’s Zafar Ansari and Jason Roy and Hampshire’s James Vince.

Several senior names have been left out giving the new calls a chance to press their claims following England’s disastrous World Cup campaign earlier this year.