David Willey is targeting white ball success with Yorkshire and England this summer. All-rounder Willey is in England’s squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy, and he says lifting the title on home soil would be an “incredible” feeling.
But, not content with that, he also wants to add a Royal London One-Day Cup title with Yorkshire, for whom he will have played four of their eight group matches come May 16.
“To win the Champions Trophy in England would just be incredible,” said the 27-year-old. “It would be fantastic to be a part of, and it would be massive for the development of English cricket.
“But it would be nice to win some silverware at Yorkshire as well. Hopefully there’s a few medals coming my way this year.”
Willey and Liam Plunkett were rested for Wednesday’s victory over Durham - when Jonny Bairstow struck a sensational 174 - ahead of England’s two one-day internationals against Ireland in Bristol on Friday and at Lord’s on Sunday.
It is an important precursor to a three-match series against South Africa between May 24-29 and then the Champions Trophy, starting June 1.
“It’s a great summer of one-day cricket for England, and it starts with these games against Ireland,” said Willey. “They’re no pushovers as we’ve seen in the past. But it would be great to start with a win.
“There will be opportunities there for some guys with a few senior players being away at the IPL, and it’s important that we do start well and go out there with the right mentality.
“The Champions Trophy is a difficult competition with only a few games in the group stages. You can’t afford to slip up. That means we have to get into that winning habit as early as possible.”
Great win for @YorkshireCCC! Gaz & @phandscomb54 brilliant with the bat & the bowlers finishing the job off, backed up by great fielding! 👍🏼
— David Willey (@david_willey) May 2, 2017
Willey’s start to the season was delayed by a week following late winter shoulder surgery. But he played two of three Specsavers County Championship matches against Warwickshire and Hampshire, taking four wickets and bowling particularly well in the second innings of the win at Edgbaston for figures of 2-20 from 10 overs.
Willey even claimed his 100th List A career wicket in Yorkshire’s opening 50-over win against Notts at Trent Bridge on Saturday when he had Stuart Broad caught in the deep on the way to figures of 2-37 from 7.5 overs. He added 2-53 from seven in beating Lancashire on Monday.
“I’ve managed to get some good overs under my belt,” he added. “Thirty-six overs in the first innings at Hampshire was a good test of my shoulder and body. To come through that with no niggles was nice. I’m feeling great now and looking forward to the summer ahead.”
With three wins from three on the board, Yorkshire are already well placed to qualify for the knockout stages. Willey will return to Yorkshire action next Wednesday when they take on his former county Northamptonshire at Wantage Road alongside Plunkett, Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid and Joe Root. They will also play against champions Warwickshire at Edgbaston on May 14.
Meanwhile, Lancashire’s Jimmy Anderson has been made available for both Roses Specsavers County Championship matches later this month and into June. The first is at Emirates Old Trafford on May 19 before the return at Headingley on June 2.