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Batty delighted at ‘surreal’ second coming
- Updated: September 16, 2016
October 22, 2003, Dhaka, 1st Test, 2nd day. Gareth Batty claims his first Test wicket: Alok Kapali, bowled shouldering arms.
October 22, 2016, Chittagong, 1st Test, 3rd day. Gareth Batty claims his 12th Test wicket, a week after his 39th birthday.
It is now not an impossible thought. On Wednesday evening, Batty’s phone buzzed with the call from James Whitaker, the national selector, to tell him he was on the plane to Bangladesh and, after a gap of more than 11 years, has the chance to add to his seven Test caps.
“It was a bit surreal, but a great honour – it’s a great phonecall to get,” he said. “It’s never going to be a bad one one when you’re told you’re going to get on a plane to represent your country.”
Batty was close to a recall this time last year after Zafar Ansari, who he will now be touring alongside after the allrounder was also included in England’s 17-man squad, broke his thumb just hours after earning his first call-up for the trip to the UAE.
Instead the selectors went for Samit Patel and the thought was that the last chance for Batty to rekindle his Test career had passed him by. However, another solid season for Surrey, in which he has collected 41 wickets at 31.32, has earned him selection ahead of the more prolific Jack Leach or Ollie Rayner.
If Batty …
