Ex-Australia bowler Worrall ignoring England call-up hype

Dan Worrall, a former Australian seamer, says he is disobeying rumors that he was called up for England in an Ashes year.

The 33-year-old joined Surrey as a local in 2022 through a British passport after playing three one-day internationals for Australia in 2016.

Worrall will be eligible for England by the time of their next one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May, after completing a three-year residency.

Only five players, including Albert Trott, who retired from international cricket at the end of the 19th century, have represented both England and Australia.

Worrall, who was born in Melbourne and played state cricket for South Australia, is a man of English descent.

He played for Gloucestershire’s overseas team in 2018 and 2021 before effectively quitting Australian cricket three years ago to relocate to the UK.

In Surrey’s three consecutive County Championship victories, he has collected 139 wickets for an average of 21.9%.

Former England captain Alec Stewart and former Australia opener David Warner have both suggested that Worrall will play.

Worrall said he would accept a call-up, but England’s cricket director Rob Key has not discussed it. Worrall previously said he would, but he has not discussed it.

He continued, “Nothing has improved as far as I’m concerned.” Everyone else should deal with and speculate about it if there is anything happening in the background.

It doesn’t irritate me too much, I find. Someone always has an opinion and someone wants to see or hear the next headline. I don’t care that much. It will happen whatever happens. Wherever I am, I’ll do my best.

Worrall, a quick-medium bowler, has the ability to move the ball around and accuracy.

England have frequently preferred high pace under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Worrall and uncapped Essex seamer Sam Cook could compete for opening caps for England.

Worrall agrees that England’s approach is appropriate for Australian conditions, but Scott Boland, a bowler from his country, has recently had success there, most notably as a Test series opener against India.

Worrall’s call-up to England would resemble the one cap that Darren Pattinson, whose brother James played for Australia, was given in 2008. The local press dubbed Australian-born Martin McCague “the rat than joined the sinking ship” when he joined the England squad for an Ashes tour in 1993.

Worrall, whose family hails from Nottingham, is simply grateful that England provided him with another chapter of his professional career.

He said, “When my family moved over, we had an eight-week old baby at the time.” It’s been difficult without a doubt. Although I’m sure many people do it, we have to figure it out as we move to the other side of the world and have no family in London.