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Following a game-winning effort against Pakistan in the
Kolkata group-stage World Cup 2023 match, England bowler David Willey announced his retirement from international cricket.
Following England's victory against Pakistan in Kolkata, David
Willey secured his 100th wicket in an ODI. He then disclosed that, even on the
day the team left for India at the end of September, he had contemplated
withdrawing from the World Cup.
Prior to England's loss to Australia in Ahmedabad last week,
Willey made known that, at thirty-three, he will be retiring from international
cricket following this tournament. After learning in September that he was the
only player on the World Cup team without an offer, he was informed that he had
not been given a central contract for 2023–2024.
Feeling like "a third wheel" as a peripheral player
infuriated him, and he quickly made up his mind to give it up. He explained
that he had chosen to "take control" since the continual
unpredictability around his schedule was becoming too much for him, his wife,
and their two kids.
After taking over for Sam Curran during England's 4th World
Cup match—a 229-run defeat to South Africa in Mumbai—Willey began the
tournament serving drinks for the team. Since then, he has participated in
every match. He signed out with 3 for 56 in his 10 overs and finished the
tournament with 11 wickets at 23.54, second only to Adil Rashid in the England
team.
"Emotions were mixed," Willey remarked. "I've
had enough, yet I do so with much regret. I'm arguably playing the finest
cricket of my career, as anyone who has peeked in has seen how I've conducted
business. As fit as I've ever been at 33."Their decision to change course
following the World Cup was one of the reasons I wasn't given a contract; I'm
not sure why [they are]. It's been a while now that I'm not exactly sure where
I stand with England, and it's just grown really exhausting."
When Willey found out he was the only player on the team without a central contract, he admitted to being undecided about going to India: "I was not sure if I should play in the World Cup until the very last minute." On the morning of our meeting at Lord's, I was still unsure."
"After that, it [retirement] was something that was on my
mind," he continued. Not only do I feel undervalued as an England player
when I go down that list of people who have contracts, but it's not just that I
haven't been offered one. I decided that it was time to wrap things up for the
day."
During his new-ball delivery on Saturday, Willey dismissed both of Pakistan's openers, Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman, before coming back to have Agha Salman caught at mid-on to become the 15th Englishman to reach 100 ODI wickets. In his last international match, he also won Player of the Match, making him the second England men's player to do so after Alastair Cook.David Willey won the @aramco #POTM in his last England appearance 🎉#CWC23 | #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/aiIDftmH2K
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 11, 2023
| Scorecard: ENG versus PAK
At Eden Gardens, England elected to bat and scored a solid
337–7. With solid efforts from three of their top four batsmen, Jonny Bairstow
(59), Joe Root (60), and Ben Stokes (84), they achieved their third 300-plus
score of the tournament. Fans bemoaned the inconsistent batting lineup
throughout the tournament, even in spite of this encouraging performance.
Pakistan stumbled when faced with England's formidable total
and were eventually bowled out for 244 in the 44th over. Their fifth loss in
nine games after this one saw them eliminated from the competition.
" Our journey in this competition has taken unexpected
turns and tested our resilience. Reaching 100 wickets in an ODI is a memorable
achievement for me. A fitting way to close. "We have outstanding players
in our dressing room," Willey said to the television hosts.
Willey expressed his optimism that he had given some
performances that would refute Rob Key's assessment that he shouldn't have been
given a core contract. Willey also shared that one of the highlights of his
outstanding England career was winning the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.
"Rob Key told me he hoped I was incorrect. I hope that
was successful. Looking back, I never was the top player (in the academy). All
I've done is remain strong. I'm glad I wore the England shirt. The victory in
the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia will live in memory."
The 33-year-old cricketer has an outstanding record after making his ODI debut in May 2015 and going on to make an impression in T20Is the same year. He has amassed 625 runs at bat and claimed 100 wickets in 73 One-Day Internationals. In addition, he has 51 wickets in 43 Twenty20 Internationals. Interestingly, Willey was an integral part of England's T20 World Cup campaign, which saw them place second in India in 2016 and win the championship in Australia in 2022.
