The County Championship has got off to a flying start this year and new man Matt Critchley has been a part of a winning side against Hampshire that saw him take centre stage on two occasions and has put himself firmly in the frame for a spot in the England Test squad for the first Test at Lord's on the 2nd June against New Zealand.

 

The Essex all-rounder blasted his way to a highest-ever score of 173 on the opening day of the season for Essex in the County Championship before following it up by taking 6 wickets for 9 runs in 5 overs of leg spin in the first innings as Essex recorded a convincing victory against Hampshire by an innings.

 

The former Derbyshire player has done the perfect thing to earn a call-up for England, and it has come at a very opportune moment, as England have declared they will be keeping a close eye on performances for the County Championship this summer, as they prepare for series against the Black Caps and South Africa later this year.

 

Critchley tells The i Paper:

 

“It’s a lifelong dream to play for England. I like to think if you put the results on the board then opportunities will still come your way. I feel like the last few years I’ve put the numbers on the board that could potentially put you in that frame. I’d love to play for England."

 

He added:

 

“I’m only 29, I’ve played for a few years now but I don’t feel like that boat has passed. If I got an opportunity I feel like I can do pretty well.”

 

The all-rounder bats at number 5 for Essex and could come into the England team as a spinning all-rounder which was filled by Will Jacks during the recent Ashes series, however, the 25-year-old is part of the ongoing IPL and so Critchley has been offered an opportunity he will relish.

 

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Warne’s Advice Still Guides Critchley

 

His journey into this point hasn't just come from strong form however, he has worked with two of the greatest Australian spinners of all time and was trained by the late Shane Warne in Australia before his passing, who helped influence Critchley's mentality greatly.

 

When asked about meeting Warne, he said:

 

“It was amazing. He was a hero of mine growing up and a hero to a lot of people, so that memory of meeting him was pretty surreal.”

 

He added:

 

“He said always try to get in the battle and just bluff your way through every event. I think whether you think you’re on top or not, if you can bluff your way through it and bluff the batsmen then it gives you an advantage."

 

The all-rounder said:

 

“It’s something he was famous for – he’d say every series he’d come up with a new ball. Whether it was a zooter or a flipper or whatever and, essentially, he bowled a leg-spinner, a straight one and a googly. But he had that aura about him that you can’t match. There’s only very few people that have that.”

 

Critchley also worked with former Australian spinner Stuart MacGill for six weeks during his spell in Sydney and still contacts him for advice on his bowling which he hopes can eventually get him to bowl for England. Critchley who has over 100 County Championship games behind him, finally feels ready to take his next challenge and his bowling is a lot better than most give him credit for.

 

Critchley said:

 

“Sometimes it feels like people forget I bowl, or they say I bowl part-time because I bat at five. Whereas I feel I’m getting better. I love bowling. I want to get better; I want to be a first spinner going forward, I want to bowl as many overs as I can.”

 

It seems that Matt Critchley is right on the edge of his dream and all it will take is for him to maintain his form to be a part of England's summer plans.