Lumb earns reward for "long road back"

By Dave Bracegirdle

Nottinghamshire’s Michael Lumb is relishing the prospect of returning to the international fold after being included in England’s t20 squads for the forthcoming series against South Africa and then the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka.

Lumb was a member of the squad that lifted the trophy in the Caribbean two years ago but was then dogged by injuries, which curtailed each of his last couple of seasons with Hampshire.

“It means a hell of a lot to me to be selected because it has been a long road back after injury and a lot of hard work,” he said. “This season has been great for me personally because I am really enjoying my cricket at Nottinghamshire and the move has worked out very well.”

The 32-year-old gate-crashed his way into the 2010 squad after being part of the England Lions side that defeated the senior team in a t20 match in Abu Dhabi. He then played in all seven of England’s fixtures during the tournament, culminating in the seven-wicket win over Australia in the final in Barbados.

Lumb, son of former Yorkshire opening batsman Richard Lumb, said England will be sure to put up a stern defence of their title. “There is a bit of pressure on us because we go to Sri Lanka as champions but we have a strong and talented squad and there is absolutely no reason why we cannot defend it,” he said.

Having overcome foot and ankle surgery, the left-hander joined Notts for the 2012 summer and is their leading scorer in first-class cricket, with 959 runs. In the Friends Life t20 tournament he helped to give Notts a series of fast starts, compiling 252 runs at an average of 36.00 from his eight innings.

Lumb’s last international involvement was in a t20 defeat to Sri Lanka at Bristol last summer. Now the Johannesburg-born opener will be hoping for a starting berth when the three-match series against South Africa begins in Durham on September 8.


Date: 21/08/2012 13:33:56 by Dave Bracegirdle
In: Today | Nottinghamshire | England |