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Vince hoping to play a ‘big part’ in the Ashes
James Vince recognises that success in an Ashes series can kickstart a player’s career like few other campaigns, as he prepares to seize his “second chance” following a surprise recall to England’s Test team.
Vince, 26, appeared to have been tried and discarded by England after averaging 19.27, with a highest score of 42, in seven home Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2016.
But, despite a low-key season for Hampshire in the County Championship, he was named ahead of Tom Westley in England’s Ashes squad, and is widely tipped to bat at the problematic No. 3 position in the first Test at Brisbane on November 23.
“I’ve had 12 months away from Test cricket, and I was disappointed with how my career started,” Vince said. “But this is a great opportunity here to put it right, and get myself established in the Test side.”
“It’s a second chance,” he added. “Cooky [Alastair Cook] alluded to it before we came out, that an Ashes series is bigger than any other, if you come here and do well, it can kickstart your career.”
Speaking at the Waca in Perth, where England are acclimatising ahead of their first warm-up match on Saturday, Vince conceded that his recall had come as something of a surprise, but believes that his game is well suited to the challenge of batting on Australian pitches.
“I played out here when I was a bit younger,” he said. “It’s a different ball and we’ll be tested by pace. Hopefully from a batting point of view, there’s some good tracks out here with true bounce. George Bailey played at Hampshire, and he said I’d enjoy batting out here. If you get yourself in, and get past the new ball, there’s runs to be scored.”
Vince was one of several players whom the local media struggled to identify as they touched down at Perth on Sunday, but he’s confident that that lack of recognition for England’s players will quickly change when the Tests get underway.
“We’re here to win, that’s the bottom line,” he said. “We feel like we’ve got a good squad and a great chance to win if we can play good cricket. Our preparation in the next three weeks will be important, if we can get that right it gives us a great chance.
“I hope I can play a part in us winning the Ashes. There’s going to be tough times – a bit of pace maybe – but nothing we haven’t dealt with before and that we can’t deal with. We’re very confident with the group of guys we’ve got here that we can get a series win.”
England are braced to begin the series without the services of Ben Stokes, who was withdrawn from the squad prior to their departure pending further investigation into his alleged actions in Bristol last month.
“It’s disappointing but at the same time it gives other guys an opportunity to stand up and make a name for themselves,” Vince said.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo