Dom Sibley taking it one game at a time as he hopes for England return

Dom Sibley is enjoying his cricket again but trying to stay focused on the present with Warwickshire rather than any potential England recall.

The opener was discarded from the international set-up last summer after a string of low scores and opted against touring Australia with England Lions in order to work on his technique back home.

A century in May against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford – the venue for England’s second Test with South Africa next week – vindicated the “difficult” decision Sibley made when he turned down the chance to be part of a shadow squad Down Under while the Ashes were going on.

An unbeaten 106 earlier this month started Warwickshire’s Royal London Cup campaign with victory away to Gloucestershire and he struck 89 on Friday in a losing cause against Middlesex in Radlett, not long after England went down in three days to South Africa at Lord’s but Sibley is staying typically level-headed.

He told the PA news agency: “I am trying to not look too far ahead and to stay in the present. I have games coming up and want to get runs for Warwickshire so that is all I am focused on at the minute.

“I am feeling good, playing nicely. I played nicely (against Middlesex). Radlett is a quick scoring ground and it is always nice to have a quick outfield.

“From a personal point of view facing an international bowler like (Umesh) Yadav, who bowled at a decent pace, it was good to feel good against a bowler like that but ultimately disappointed I couldn’t kick on and get the team over the line.

“I think overall when I have been batting in the red-ball stuff, it has been about enjoying it a bit more. I wanted to play with a bit more enjoyment compared to last summer (and) the way my technique was, but nothing