10:04am Thursday 4th March 2010
GRAHAM Napier has revealed his heartache after yet another rejection from the England selectors.
The Essex all-rounder, from Colchester, was overlooked for England’s 30-man provisional squad for the Twenty20 World Cup which starts in the West Indies in April.
And Napier, who is currently the leading Twenty20 wicket-taker in the world, feels there is plenty to back up his case for a place in the squad.
“I’m deeply disappointed not to be involved in the 30-man squad, having played well in Twenty20 cricket over the winter for Central Districts in New Zealand,” Napier said.
“I am currently the leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 cricket and have the ability to take the attack to the opposition with the bat if required.
“I feel Twenty20 is a form of the game that suits me well and the more experience I’ve gained in it the more effective I have become.”
Napier made the final England squad for last year’s Twenty20 World Cup but did not play a game.
He does, however, have a great chance to prove the selectors wrong in the forthcoming Indian Premier League where he is playing for Mumbai Indians.
“There is an opportunity for me over the next few weeks — as one of only eight English players involved in the IPL — to show the England selectors what they are missing out on,” he said.
“We have a couple of matches among ourselves scheduled for the next couple of days. I’m the first overseas player to arrive for Mumbai Indians so this is my chance to impress ahead of the tournament.”
Napier shot to worldwide fame in 2008 when he struck 152 not out off 58 balls for Essex against Sussex in the Twenty20 Cup.
His innings included a world-record 16 sixes and he was touted as the ideal type of player for Twenty20 cricket.
But the England selectors have chosen not to utilise his ability to clear the ropes and bowling at the death, which has gained him a place in the world’s most lucrative tournament in India for the second year running.
At 30-years-old Napier knows his chances of Test recognition are all but gone and Twenty20 cricket is his most likely route to international recognition.
After helping Central Districts to the HRV Twenty20 Cup during the winter, he will line-up for them in September’s Twenty20 Champions League, unless Essex also qualify.
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