"My Best Cricket Is Probably Still To Come" : David Willey After Picking His Maiden ODI Five-Wicket Haul

England seamer David Willey enjoyed a remarkable comeback to the national colours by picking up his maiden fifer in England’s victory over Ireland in Southampton on Thursday. David Willey shared the new ball alongside Saqib Mahmood and removed the first four out of six batsmen. Willey remarked that his best cricket is yet to follow.

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David Willey played his first game for England since May 2019, missing 22 white-ball fixtures in between. He was part of the limited-overs series against Pakistan before the World Cup but was overlooked for the ten-team event as the hosts preferred the likes of Tom Curran, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Chris Woakes.

Before the seamer’s five-wicket haul in the first ODI, he had 52 wickets in 46 ODIs and 34 scalps in 28 T20Is.

The Northampton-born credited his coach at Yorkshire, Richard Pyrah, due to which he feels he is moving at the right direction. Willey mentioned that Pyrah has invested in me and is confident that his best days in the sport are yet to come along.

“He’s had me badgering him at all times of the day in the winter and fortunately he has invested some time in me,” he said. “I feel like I’m moving in the right direction and I feel like my best cricket is probably still to come,” the 30-year old stated as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

I’ve gone away and worked quite hard to get back near my best: David Willey

The 30-year old relished wearing the national colours again and playing for England. Willey added that he has worked quite hard to get himself in the reckoning, going through the ups and downs. At the end of the day, he enjoyed his cricket and was glad to contribute to the team’s cause.

David Willey’s fifer earned him the man of the match award while an attacking half-century from Sam Billings helped England gun down 173 with six wickets to spare. The second ODI in Southampton gets underway on Saturday where the hosts will look to seal the series.

“It was just special to be out there playing for England again. The main priority was to enjoy it. I’ve gone away and worked quite hard to get back near my best. It’s been a rollercoaster, but I was just out there enjoying my cricket today,” he added.

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