Sri Lanka v England: Joe Denly eyes place in Test side after T20 performance
Last updated on .From the section Cricket

Joe Denly hopes to put himself in contention for a place in the England Test side after starring in the Twenty20 victory over Sri Lanka.
Denly, playing his first international in eight years, took four wickets with his leg-breaks and made 20 with the bat as England won by 30 runs.
"There are a couple of warm-up games, so hopefully I can perform there to put my name in the hat," said the Kent man.
The first match in the three-Test series begins on 6 November.
Denly has never played a Test but has been included in the England squad on the back of some fine all-round performances for Kent.
The 32-year-old not only gives England an option at the top of the order after the retirement of Alastair Cook, but his bowling could prove useful in a series where spin is expected to play a big part.
"I think being able to bowl will help my case," said Denly, who played nine one-day internationals and five T20s for England in his previous spell as an international cricketer between 2009 and 2010.
He told BBC Sport: "To get an opportunity to play for England before that Test series can only give me confidence.
"It gives me a bit of an idea to what it means to represent England again. I can't wait to get going with the red-ball stuff."
In his time away from the England side, Denly has featured in a number of global T20 leagues, playing for teams from Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
When he first played for England, it was mainly as a batsman, but in Colombo he batted at number seven, then opened the bowling with his leg-breaks.
He took two wickets in his first two overs, then two in the final over of the match to end with 4-19, the best return by an England bowler in T20 internationals.
"I land my leg-spinner pretty well," he said. "Being mainly a batsman I have a good sense of what the batter will try to do.
"It's been a while since I've been in England colours but I'm delighted to be back and contributing.
"There were a few nerves there, but it was more excitement. I've been really looking forward to it."
England's success in the one-off T20 follows a 3-1 series win in the one-day series.
The first of their two warm-up games before the Tests begins on Tuesday.
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At the risk of sounding pedantic, the article doesn't suggest that Denly's T20 performance makes him into a Test player. It quotes him saying that he hopes to put himself onto contention by performing well in the warm-up games. The T20 has just whetted his appetite.
T20 performance, as you rightly point out, should not be taken as evidence of automatic Test potential.
But this T20 is irrelevant. Like saying I'm great at 200 m please consider me for the 1500
@7&8: Alas, DBD has been right out of form. Which is why Kent dropped him to 5th in the order for the last couple of CC games. He needs a decent season next year (in Div 1! :) ) to get back in contention.
Is he not able to see the rich, rich irony and barely believable hypocrisy in that?
The guys a quality bat but clearly a complete @r$ehole.
"When did a decent performance in a 20/20, suddenly catapult someone into the Test arena?"
Jos Buttler, IPL 2018 and picked for 1st test v Pakistan. I hope that answers your question.
Yes, you DO need to watch players. Averages tell you very little. Thankfully, you are not a selector.