England all-rounder Joe Denly is looking at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) as a platform to impress the national selectors and guarantee his place in this year’s World Cup squad.
Joe Denly
Kolkata:
With his part-time leg-spin, Denly also scalped 20 wickets, at an average of 16.75 and an economy rate of 7.76. He hopes to grab the selectors’ attention by doing well for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
“I want to play as many games as I can. It’s important leading up to the WC. Hopefully I get some game time here and I can contribute with some good performances. And then, hopefully the England selectors will be watching them,” said Denly.
KKR boasts of star-studded foreign players and Denly is still waiting in the pipeline for a dream IPL debut. “We have some good players in the franchise and I think it’s a great position to be in. Hopefully, I can put my hands up and be in games. I am coming here on the back of a busy winter. I am used to these hot conditions. So I feel like I am well acclimatised and ready to go,” he added.
Host England is considered as strong favourite to lift its maiden WC title this year, but Denly thinks otherwise.
He stated the team’s sole aim would be to play its best cricket in every game of the mega event. “I don’t think we (England) are favourites. We will just be focussing on trying to produce our best cricket in every game we play (in the WC),” he concluded.
Denly’s form in white ball cricket for Kent in 2018 has brought him on the selectors’ radar for a spot in the English squad. He recorded an average of 70.28 in the Royal London One-Day Cup, besides scoring 409 runs in 12 innings in the Vitality Blast.
With his part-time leg-spin, Denly also scalped 20 wickets, at an average of 16.75 and an economy rate of 7.76. He hopes to grab the selectors’ attention by doing well for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
“I want to play as many games as I can. It’s important leading up to the WC. Hopefully I get some game time here and I can contribute with some good performances. And then, hopefully the England selectors will be watching them,” said Denly.
KKR boasts of star-studded foreign players and Denly is still waiting in the pipeline for a dream IPL debut. “We have some good players in the franchise and I think it’s a great position to be in. Hopefully, I can put my hands up and be in games. I am coming here on the back of a busy winter. I am used to these hot conditions. So I feel like I am well acclimatised and ready to go,” he added.
Host England is considered as strong favourite to lift its maiden WC title this year, but Denly thinks otherwise.
He stated the team’s sole aim would be to play its best cricket in every game of the mega event. “I don’t think we (England) are favourites. We will just be focussing on trying to produce our best cricket in every game we play (in the WC),” he concluded.