The performances of the fast bowler have therefore not gone unnoticed and has received a well-deserved call-up to the England squad.
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The Hampshire captain has already played for England at one-day and T20 level, and is now set to debut in the Test match against the touring Sri Lankans.
Sangakkara, one of Ball’s many victims this season – he leads the First Division wicket-taking chart – also thinks the decision to include the seamer is sensible.
England, it could be said, are now reaping the rewards of their own 18-month rebuilding phase, with their recent 2-1 Test series win in South Africa and their near-miss in the World T20 final in India firm evidence of the progress they have been making.
National selector James Whitaker has reposed his confidence in Ball and Vince and said that the pair richly deserve their place in the national Test squad.
“Sri Lanka are a young side, and we expect a strong series between the two teams to start the summer of worldwide cricket”, said Whitaker. He’s tall, he’s got good pace and he can move the ball both away and into the right-hander and he comes round the wicket to the left-handers as well. But there is a time for it; when he gets to a 100 or we’re in the position to win.
England’s linchpin number four agrees nonetheless that Vince’s strokeplay is reminiscent of Vaughan’s, and senses he may prove – like the 2005 Ashes-winning captain – a batsman born to Test cricket.
Broad’s new-ball partnernship with James Anderson is one of the most celebrated in the history of English cricket.
“He got a lot fitter and stronger, which really helps with his extra bounce as he really bounds in with a bit more energy in his run-up”, said Broad.
“I understood why England called time on Ian Bell but I couldn’t see why they went to Compton, who is only 14 months younger”. It was quite an emotional series, it really hurt us as a team to lose in our own conditions. But right now I won’t be going to him too much because he just needs to stay in the great rhythm he’s in.
“I honestly think he is one of those players who will come into worldwide cricket and really raise his game”, said Root.
“I honestly think he is one of those players who will come into global cricket and really raise his game”, he said. “Instead of searching for wickets, he tries to bowl the ball in exactly the right area, and wait for the batsman to make a mistake or for the ball to do something that allows him to get a wicket”.
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“It’s something I’ve been aiming for since I was a little kid really”, said the 25-year-old Hampshire captain, who made four T20 appearances for England during the winter after being given his worldwide debut in a rain-ruined ODI against Ireland in Dublin last year. “He is a fine player and I am really excited he is in the squad and he has the opportunity to show everyone how good he is”.
