Worrall inspires Ashes talk as he bowls Surrey to win

Worrall was speaking after maintaining his impressive start to the English red-ball season, picking up 5-47 as Surrey defeated Hampshire by an innings and 11 runs at The Oval to move level top of the County Championship with Essex.

In doing so the seamer, who acquired a British passport via his father's background, passed a century of wickets for his adopted county.

But Worrall, who played three ODIs for Australia in 2016 before his progress was stunted by a series of injuries, only changed allegiance in April 2022 and not yet eligible for England.

"The way the rules are, it's three years since being a local player in England, so I suppose that would be next April," he said. "I'm ready to go if I'm required, but I've learned in my time that as soon as you think that far ahead, you're kidding yourself."

Of his decision to register as a local player he added: "It's something I wish I had done 10 years ago."

Surrey, who are seeking a third successive title, wrapped up victory with two sessions to spare on Monday despite poor weather at the weekend. Either side of making 359 they dismissed Hampshire for 151 and 197, Worrall taking 8-91 in the match.

Having bowled Surrey to victory against Kent last week he has now taken 14 wickets at 12.14 apiece this English summer. Ironically they have all come with the more seamer-friendly English Dukes ball. Worrall missed the opening two rounds when batters feasted on the Australian Kookaburra cherry.

England vice-captain Ollie Pope equalled the Surrey record for the most outfield catches in a first-class match, pouching three more at second slip on Monday to give himself six in the innings and eight in the game. That matched a record that had stood since 1957.

Six of those were taken off Worrall whose accuracy and ability to find the edge was instrumental in Surrey's 2022 and 2023 triumphs, when he took 39 and 48 wickets respectively.

Worrall - known as Franky after his great West Indian namesake, often goes under the radar due to his undemonstrative manner and nagging reliability, but Surrey captain Rory Burns, the former England opener, said the dressing room know his value.

"The way that 'Franky' bowls, the way he sets the tone for us, taking the new ball, he's definitely not under-appreciated in my view," Burns said.

With Stuart Broad retired, Jimmy Anderson past 40 and other seamers beset by fitness issues there could yet be a place in the England attack for Worrall if he maintains his form for another year.

He would be 33 by the time the next Ashes come around but took 195 wickets in the Sheffield Shield and his experience on wickets Down Under, and with the Kookaburra, could make him a outside bet.

In the Championship's second division Australian Test batter Peter Handscomb was run out for 99 as his Leicestershire team batted out for a draw at Northamptonshire.

An impatient Handscomb was run out by a direct hit as he chanced a single to short midwicket seeking his 23rd first-class centry..

with PA

Australian Associated Press