David Willey announces retirement as ‘disgraceful’ act called out by cricket legend
Michael Vaughan has slammed the decision by England cricket to not hand David Willey a national central contract.
The treatment of David Willey has been called out after the veteran English cricketer announced his surprise retirement as a result of a shock snubbing. The 33-year-old seamer issued a statement saying he will retire from international cricket following the Cricket World Cup after being overlooked for a national contract.
Despite being part of England's 15-man squad in India, England bosses were not prepared to offer him a new deal. Willey in a post to social media announced he was walking away from international cricket, admitting he "never wanted this day to come".
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“From a young boy, I’ve only ever dreamed of playing cricket for England,” Willey wrote. “So, with careful thought and consideration, it is with great regret that I feel the time has come for me to retire from all forms of international cricket at the end of the World Cup. I have worn the shirt with immense pride and given my absolute everything to the badge on my chest.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said the decision to not hand one of England's best a contract was 'disgraceful'. Wiley has played 70 one-day internationals and 43 Twenty20s for England and Vaughan told BBC's Test Match Special on Wednesday that the decision to snub him is 'staggering'.
“Willey’s been England’s best player in the last three games. England have given out 29 contracts and he wasn’t worthy of a one-year contract, which I found staggering," Vaughan said. "The way he’s been treated in this World Cup has been disgraceful.
“You’ve got a player playing in a World Cup, there’s a T20 World Cup next June, and even if you think at this stage David Willey isn’t going to be in the squad for the T20 World Cup, he’s probably an injury away from being in that 15. So you can’t tell me you don’t want to be looking after someone like David Willey. I don’t see how you can give 29 contracts out, yet you don’t give one to someone who’s playing the best in the World Cup.”
Willey's wife Carolynne took a swipe at England cricket bosses after her husband announced he was retiring from international cricket, posting a now deleted picture on social media of Willey dismissing Indian star Virat Kohli, with the caption: 'You've been short changed love. ECB don't deserve you.'
Willey says retirement has nothing to do with England's dismal World Cup showing
The 33-year-old dismissed the notion thqt he was walking away from international cricket because of England's performances in this years World Cup by saying his retirement had "nothing to do" with that. Willey missed out on England's 2019 triumph after being dropped to make way for Jofra Archer. He did however, feature in England's T20 World Cup winning team in Australia last year.
“I’m sure everybody who knows me does not doubt that, whatever my involvement in the remainder of this campaign, I will give my everything and more! That’s the only way I know,” he wrote.
The England seamer will switch his focus to his career with his native Northamptonshire after rejoining the club last year following seven seasons at Yorkshire. He has also secured a spot in the ILT20 tournament in the UAE early next year, and will have his sights set on another big IPL payday with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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