COVERED WINTER 2020

11 @TRENTBRIDGE JAKE BALL “AT 22 I’M THINKING ‘HAVE I GOT A FUTURE IN THE GAME?’, THEN A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER I’M OPENING THE BOWLING FOR ENGLAND AT LORD’S.” Jake Ball encompass injuries, rehabilitation and the frustrations of finding himself on the fringes – not just for England, but for Notts too. In early March, as his county prepared for what should have been an imminent start to the season, Ball spoke of discard- ing the baggage of the last few years; of 2020 representing a fresh start. Then came lockdown – but rather than stalling the seamer’s progress, it’s possible that it consolidated his revival. “It was tough when the season got postponed, but maybe another couple of months to reflect on the last three years or so of my career was useful,” he admitted. “I feel like I’ve really put that to bed now. “I didn’t necessarily enjoy my cricket in 2019, so my winter was about getting that love back. “It felt like I was starting again, saying ‘look, the England stuff’s behind me, let’s just go out there and enjoy playing’. I saw it as a line in the sand, and I’m really enjoying my cricket again now.”