Brydon Carse is really pleased to get going again with a cricket ball in his hand having returned to training at Emirates Riverside this week, alongside Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.
Carse was named in a 55-man England training squad who were asked to train ahead of England’s busy summer schedule.
The training squad being named in preparation for England’s up and coming fixtures which are being played in bio-secure environments.
Carse said: “I got a phone call from one of the England staff letting me know I was going to be involved in an extended training group, obviously I am very chuffed to be a part of the group and just looking forward to making the most out of the next few weeks and seeing where it can take me.”
The right-arm fast bowler had a superb summer for Durham, claiming 35 wickets in the County Championship and was once again looking forward to what 2020 had to offer. Before the Coronavirus Pandemic resulted in no professional cricket being played in England and Wales until at least August 1.
“Lockdown was frustrating at first, but I managed to keep myself busy and keep myself occupied over the last couple of weeks. With the restrictions lessoned over the past few weeks it has been good to see a few people and just try and get back to normal as soon as possible.”
Monday saw Carse back out on the grass for the first time since returning post lockdown.
Bowling with his run up against a batter is something he is pleased to be able to do again: “It was really good to get going again and I am just looking forward to the next few weeks and slowly building up and getting back into it.
“Last season was a big season for me for Durham, playing in all three formats across the whole season, after a tricky few years before that with injuries.”
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced last month a further delay to the start of the professional domestic cricket season, with no domestic cricket to be played before August 1.
Carse adding: “I have been speaking to a few of the lads and guys are itching to get back out, whether it be four-day cricket or one-day cricket, just to be back playing for Durham that will be great.
“Hopefully we can get a couple of Championship games in and possibly a shortened T20 competition and I think with the squad that we have, with a lot of young players who played last season in the T20, we have a squad who can really do well in that tournament.”