Follow Us34-year-old debutant Richard Gleeson was the pick of the bowlers for England, who suffered a disheartening loss to India in Edgbaston on Saturday. Not only was he able to control his speed and brought a mini-collapse to India’s top order, but he also astonished everyone with his speed and variations.
India were 43 for 0 when Gleeson was brought into the attack and immediately struck by sending the trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant back in quick succession. He ended up with 3 for 15 in four overs, executing yorkers with precision and hence, managing to shed the long-standing wait that he had to endure given his late bloomer reputation.
"If you'd have said when I was 27 and starting out in pro cricket that I'd be playing at 34 for England, I never would have imagined it," Gleeson told the BBC. "It just goes to show that if you keep persevering and you keep believing in yourself, you never know what can happen."
In the T20 Blast, Gleeson became sort of death over specialist, ensuring his national selection becoming more clear. England have been facing the issues of sorting out the death over bowling but Gleeson pleasantly surprised everyone with his unique set of bowling in all three phases.
"I'm happy with where my speed is," he said. "This year, I'm probably bowling a little bit quicker. [England selection] wasn't on my radar: it was just to play the highest standard that I could. I just want to keep playing cricket and enjoying it, and playing for as long as I can. Who knows, if I keep performing, anything could happen.
"I'll do whatever role I get. It was different today but I was biting at the bit to get hold of the ball on debut and settle the nerves. My natural go-to is hard lengths, then some yorkers and slipping in some bumpers every now and again. Hard lengths, especially on that wicket today, was the way to go."