ENG vs IND | Playing for England wasn’t anywhere near my radar: Richard Gleeson
Richard Gleeson made his England debut at the age of 34 in the 2nd T20I against India at Edgbaston, becoming England’s third oldest debutant in T20 internationals.
The debutant finished with a figure of 3 for 15 in his four over spell, and got the crucial wickets of Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and in form Rishabh Pant.
Gleeson, who made his first class debut in 2015 at the age of 27 never thought that he would be representing England for the very first time at the age of 34.
The Lancashire quick has admitted that playing for England was not on his radar, especially when he was so close to calling it a day 8 months ago after sustaining a stress fracture of the back.
"Did I think this day would come? Not in 2015, when I first played for Northants, no," Gleeson said in an interview after his debut.
"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.
But a couple of years ago ( in 2018), I played a bit for the England Lions and I did all right,” he added.
"But then I had my injury. Playing for England just wasn't on my radar,” Gleeson concluded.
The comeback is always greater than the setback.
Amid all these injury scare and retirement thoughts, Gleeson kept his inner fire alive and was fully focused on getting back to full fitness to play for the Red Roses again. Gleeson did come back and how?
It was the Roses clash between Lancashire and Yorkshire at the Old Trafford. Yorkshire needed one run of the last ball with in form Harry Brook on strike and Gleeson found Brook plumb in front with a yorker, which ended the game as a tie. Gleeson was back and there was no looking back. He took 23 scalps in 14 group games for Lancashire and currently placed second in the wicket taking list.
“I was just focused on trying to get back playing for Lancashire and playing cricket again.
This makes it all worthwhile. Just getting back on the park for Lancs was my aim and to then do well was even better. But this wasn't anywhere near my radar. I'm thankful that I've had the opportunity," Gleeson said.
Gleeson’s impressive run with the ball earned him a spot in the England T20I side. England’s biggest problem had been their bowling at the back-end of the innings.
Gleeson with his pace and the yorkers we have seen in the Blast, could solve England’s death bowling problem. His death overs record of 13 wickets at an economy rate of 8.64 in the Blast this year does make an opening for him to be in England’s scheme of things for the mega event in Australia later this year.
 "Kaushik Kashyap")
