Matt Parkinson ‘gutted not to play again’ while on tour with England over winter

Matt Parkinson admits he was “gutted” to spend another winter watching England from the boundary edge and believes county pitches are holding back the development of spinners.

The Lancashire leg-spinner travelled Down Under with the Lions during England’s fateful Ashes series, without making the senior squad, before being selected for the Test tour of the West Indies but failing to get a game.

Having endured a similar situation in the sub-continent last winter, travelling in Covid-secure bubbles without taking to the field, it would be easy for Parkinson to lose heart.

“Obviously, I was gutted not to play again,” the 25-year-old said.

“I came close in the second Test in Barbados and then the media were reporting that I might play in Grenada. But the lads went to training and said it was a green top, so that was tough to take.

“One thing that saved me, I reckon, was that it was the first time I’d been away with an England squad thinking that I warranted a place.

“It came on the back of a decent season with Lancashire, and I wasn’t just named in the squad as a reserve or a Covid replacement.

“That was nice and kept me going.

“It’s the first time I’d been comfortable in my own skin, knowing that what I do is good enough to have me there. It’s just up to them now with selection.”

Parkinson insists he would be able to go through it all again, adding: “Yeah, I think I can. There are worse places to be than in an England squad.

“Now Covid is opening up, it will be more sustainable to do that.

“I’m hoping that every time they see me, they think I’ve improved and I’m closer to playing.

“I can’t dictate selection. All I can do is perform for Lancashire, which I did last season.

“I’m still confident (a Test call-up will come). But