Danny Briggs on standby for England’s ODI and T20I series against India

Danny Briggs, the 29-year-old spinner, has been kept on standby for England’s upcoming ODI and T20I series against India. The left-arm tweaker made his international debut in 2012 against Pakistan and last played for the Three Lions more than seven years ago in a T20I against Australia in Hobart. In seven T20Is and one ODI, the 29-year-old has picked two and five wickets respectively.

Briggs recently was a part of the Adelaide Strikers in the 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) and picked up 11 wickets from 14 matches. The southpaw is also the leading wicket-taker in the history of England’s domestic cricket. The Newport-born has now been named as a non-traveling reserve for the limited-overs leg of the India tour.

Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali are the two frontline spinners in the T20I squad, and hence, Briggs is not far away from an international return. If the pitches are spin-friendly, Briggs might get in as the third spinner. As per ESPNcricinfo, Surrey’s Will Jacks and Middlesex’s Tom Helm have also been put as non-traveling reserves.

You have to pick what ball you are going to bowl: Danny Briggs

Earlier, Briggs, in an interview, said how he learned from Daniel Vettori, the former New Zealand cricketer.

“Experience is playing a part in that. You just have to read the game and the more games you play the quicker and better you are doing it. In T20, it’s a game of urgency, especially on the batter’s behalf. As a bowler, I think you have to be aggressive with what you are going to bowl,” Briggs was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz.

“You have to pick what ball you are going to bowl, you commit to that, so you’re being aggressive as the bowler, but you are defensive with your field because clearly, you want the men back to see if the batsmen are going to take risks,” he stated.

“It is trying to get them to do what you want them to do effectively. I learned that from Daniel a few years ago. He said you can attack and defend in the same ball,” Briggs added.

As far as India’s ODI and T20I series against England are concerned, it starts on Friday, March 12 at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.