George Garton has been in and around the England setup for a while now and only managed to make his debut last year, against Ireland. He is hoping that he will finally get called up this summer ahead of the West Indies test series at Trent Bridge.
George Garton bowls with an all-action movement and can reach speeds of 90 mph.
| Date: Tuesday, January 22nd, 20:00 GMT Barbados’ Kensington Oval is the venue for this match. |
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After having his chances of earning his maiden England cap dashed by Covid last summer, George Garton is hoping for better success this month in the West Indies.
But he’s back in national team colors again, and he’s looking to make an impression in the five-match T20 series against the West Indies.
“I was quite sad,” Garton recalled, recalling his tragedy from last summer. “That possibility was snatched away because of no one’s fault.”
It was nothing new for the 24-year-old, who had spent the winter with Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.
There have been setbacks in the past, such as when Garton had to recuperate for two years from a strange side injury after impressing in the nets as bowling backup for England’s Ashes trip in 2017.
Garton tore his side when snatching his cricket coffin off a carousel at Los Angeles International Airport, resulting in four different injuries over the next two years.
Those early struggles, he says, helped him put last summer’s loss in context.
“When you look at the larger picture,” he says, “it wasn’t such a huge deal.” “Because of my previous ailments, I’m able to see setbacks in a somewhat different way.”
“All you have to do now is work hard to gain another chance.”
Garton has clearly accomplished this.
He has excelled at Sussex in a white-ball environment that many would desire. Rashid Khan, Tymal Mills, and Jofra Archer all play in Hove, so practice has included nets with them. Then international cricket should be a piece of cake.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate at Sussex,” he says, referring to a team that, despite Garton’s 2-24 with the ball and 41 with the bat on Finals Day last year, was defeated in the semi-finals by eventual winners Kent.
“For the previous several years, we’ve had one of the top white-ball teams in the nation, but we haven’t been able to break through.”
“Sussex has placed me in an excellent position to compete in future events and, perhaps, international cricket.”
“There has been criticism that people couldn’t get into a groove in either red-ball or white-ball cricket, but the formats have been played in blocks in the previous few of years.” That, I believe, has aided you.
“To say the county system is wholly flawed is to do it a disservice.”
Away from Sussex, the bowling all-rounder had to wrap his mind around a different format.
The Hundred was unquestionably a triumph for Garton, who led the Southern Brave to victory in the first edition of the men’s tournament.
“The addition of eight teams raised the bar from the Blast,” he says. “It was fantastic, in my opinion. Every game was broadcast live, and the intense emphasis on each game ensured that no performance went ignored.
“It was a wonderful chance for English talent, with all the coaches participating in franchises all over the globe.”
Garton, without a doubt, was one of those who benefited. His worth as a left-arm bowler who can swing both the bat and the ball was once again shown.
The Brave were brought to the final by three wickets in the eliminator: Dawid Malan, D’Arcy Short, and Alex Hales.
Franchises all across the world took notice.
“I was thrown in at the deep end,” recalls Garton, whose first franchise experience was with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he shared a dressing room with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
“On and off the field, I enjoyed it. Spending time with some of the top players on the planet. People you’ve admired since you were a child. It seemed a little strange.”
Garton doesn’t want to stop there, even though his white-ball climb might lead to an international debut this month.
“I want to play for England in all three forms,” he declares emphatically.
“It’s the same ambition I’ve had since I was a youngster.”