Sri Lanka v England: Joe Denly eyes place in Test side after T20 performance

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Joe Denly and Adil Rashid
Joe Denly and Adil Rashid took a combined 7-30 as England secured a 30-run victory

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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103 comments

  • Comment posted by Astralcharmer, at 20:36 27 Oct 2018

    Denly can bat 1 to 4, bats right handed, is a wicket taker and a useful fielder. So England will pick Buster Keaton!

  • Comment posted by U14758790, at 07:43 28 Oct 2018

    Its great to see an English team doing so well. Its a shame we can't actually see it on free-to-air TV, not even highlights. Interminable hours of boring darts and snooker yes, proper sport, no.

  • Comment posted by harrydonut, at 21:12 27 Oct 2018

    I agree with Astralcharmer, Denly should open in the Tests and his spin bowling will be useful . Keaton is only there because Cook has retired.

  • Comment posted by jsf78, at 08:56 28 Oct 2018

    @24 what's the point of discussing a cheat who sledges religiously but walks off the pitch when sledged himself... pathetic

  • Comment posted by boating-voter, at 06:53 28 Oct 2018

    FMJ @9
    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.

  • Comment posted by CP88, at 20:22 27 Oct 2018

    I understand the reluctance to not blood 2 new openers at the same time but between Jennings and Denly I’m sure there are few England fans who would pick Jennings in their XI. Jennings isn’t a bad county player but he just doesn’t have the mental strength for test cricket, at least not yet. He’s young though so maybe there’ll be a chance for him down the line. Not now though by a long way.

  • Comment posted by alwaysred, at 21:03 27 Oct 2018

    A bit off topic but why have England called up Foakes? if Bairstow is injured surely Buttler would keep and a specialist batter would play such as Denly or pope. Also, pope is a decent keeper too.

  • Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 12:37 28 Oct 2018

    @56: Another who obviously knows nothing about Denly. 1) He is a specialist top order batsman who just happens to have added some very effective bowling to his game. 2) He plays all formats; he played in every game of Kent's CC campaign; in fact, I can't remember the last time he wasn't in the 1st class side. If you're going to comment, at least make sure you know what you're talking about!

  • Comment posted by U16583824, at 08:37 28 Oct 2018

    Maybe he's good enough maybe he's not

    But this T20 is irrelevant. Like saying I'm great at 200 m please consider me for the 1500

  • Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 07:35 28 Oct 2018

    @6: In fairness, a lot of averages were down this season, especially Kent with their 1st innings woes! I put it mostly down to the stupid times of year that 1st class games are scheduled for.

    @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.

  • Comment posted by perfidiousalbion, at 10:00 28 Oct 2018

    Having taken Jennings ( big error IMHO) they will back their decision by playing him The danger will be him getting one good early score Vs an emerging (at best - is Malinga short form only now?) attack and then we're stuck with him again for the next dozen matches when he'll average 22ish Denly had a better season last year though not earth shatterring but is worth a look Will be a mixed bag

  • Comment posted by Anglo-Irish, at 09:59 28 Oct 2018

    @42 A lot of success in test cricket has little to do with performance at county level, especially when it comes to playing in very different conditions. Denly clearly has character and backbone, and maturity. It is a gamble, but the opener/number three berths are scarcely overflowing. My hunch is that he'll prove you wrong. I doubt many people would have predicted his success yesterday either.

  • Comment posted by Struds, at 18:13 28 Oct 2018

    Pardon the off thread comment, but I'm flabberghasted that David Warner has the audacity to walk off the field during a grade game because he was getting sledged.

    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.

  • Comment posted by Hostamosta, at 11:59 28 Oct 2018

    I feel sorry for KJ getting a lot of stick on here, he seems like a pleasant chap, but that doesn't win matches (just ask David Warner!!!) I think that Denly probably has the mental maturity to step up to the highest level, and wish him the very best of good fortune.

  • Comment posted by Paul, at 08:58 28 Oct 2018

    36. Have you seen Denly bat? I’ve been watching him for the past 5 years and I think has the technique, temperament and experience to be a top order test batsman. Though can’t disagree re bowling but he would bring an alternative option in the same way Root does

  • Comment posted by Kaylatheeagle, at 07:36 28 Oct 2018

    @9. Posted by F Mark Jewbyatch

    "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.

  • Comment posted by U17101826, at 23:10 27 Oct 2018

    When did a decent performance in a 20/20, suddenly catapult someone into the Test arena?

  • Comment posted by Bobby_Boy1, at 10:12 28 Oct 2018

    Plenty of people questioning Denly's batting. I agree, relatively speaking it's pretty average. I don't think he's as good as he was a few years ago. However, with Cook's retirement & there being a dearth of decent batsmen in England, is he any worse than the alternatives? IMHO he's a better bet than Jennings AND he can bowl decent leg-breaks. I'd give him a go. What have England go to lose?

  • Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 09:36 28 Oct 2018

    @42: I shall cut & paste my own remark on the other thread on the game, then - "I've said this before - if all you know about a player is their averages (which seems to be the case where you & Denly are concerned), then you don't know enough about him to form an opinion!"

    Yes, you DO need to watch players. Averages tell you very little. Thankfully, you are not a selector.

  • Comment posted by bluenose, at 08:42 28 Oct 2018

    Does he deserve to be in the Test team for either batting or bowling? Bits and pieces cricketers wont do the Test team no good long term. Specialist openers, genuine quick bowler for overseas conditions and perhaps a spinner who can break partneships on flat wickets are required. 2 of the 3 we may have openers spots seem open to batsmen with technique and heart.

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