You would have thought that by taking a wicket with my second ball in Test Cricket, it would settle me down. But that absolutely wasn’t the case during my debut Test in Barbados last month.
In fact, I said to my brothers afterwards that I wasn’t really sure what my arms and legs were doing in the whole of that first spell.
But I absolutely loved every minute of it.
That first ball I bowled, which John Campbell hit for four, was a bit floaty – and I was nervous.
There was a massive cross-breeze for the first two Tests in Antigua and then Barbados. I was getting pushed in with my run-up, so those first three balls, I was getting told that I was running on the pitch. That was getting in my head.
As I say, that first ball I bowled was a bit floaty. But I look back on it and think, ‘If that had seamed, I’d have had half a chance because it was driven for four with half a bat’.
Second ball, he misjudged a leave and edged it. I was buzzing.
My family were over with the Barmy Army, so I just ran towards them in celebration.
Afterwards, Jonny said to me, ‘You absolutely pied me’. I must have just palmed him off and just kept on running.
I shouted to Rooty when we got in the huddle, ‘I’ve got a Test pole!!’ He was delighted as well.
It was nice to bowl that first spell, get off, take in what had happened and then think about how we were going to bowl them out. Unfortunately, it was a flat wicket and we couldn’t manage it.
Before going out to the Caribbean, you ask people about pitches and the main answer was that they could be anything. They could produce ones good for batting, good for seamers or spinners or flat ones which are no good for anyone.
In the first two Tests, we were driving them and chasing the win. In that regard, we were quite happy with how we’d played. But then we didn’t play as well in the last one as we had in the first two.
The wicket at Grenada had a bit more pace and nip in it, and we probably didn’t adapt quickly enough to that.
I had an idea the day before the Barbados Test that I would be playing when Rooty came and said that Craig Overton was a bit sore and told me to be ready to play.
I was then told for sure half an hour before the team-talk.
I thought I could have bowled better, but I was happy with my performance.
There is obviously a bit of talk about Joe Root’s future as captain, and my view is that I don’t see anyone other than him being the best leader for England.
I came in for my first senior tour, and I was nervous and anxious going into that environment. But, after two days, I was able to be myself.
For me, a good environment is about that. Can you be yourself. And he’s a massive part of making it like that.
The role model he is, the way he is as a person, the way he speaks to everyone and has time for them, he’s a great leader.
He’s so professional, and he’s down to earth. He’s great with the media and the fans.
Hopefully for him, the results turn because I do think he’s the best captain for England.
Everyone in that dressing room, from players to coaches, is putting in so much hard work, and that will get rewarded sooner rather than later.
It’s great to be back with Yorkshire now.
I said before the tour that, whether I play or not, the most important thing for me is being consistent in the County Championship.
Taking wickets for Yorkshire has been my goal since the end of September. If I do that, I’m first of all helping us win games, and it also helps me to get picked for future Tests.
It will be a tough first couple of months with six Championship games before the start of the Blast. But we have a big squad, and we’ll be able to rotate and keep people fresh.
Hopefully we can start well at Bristol and Northampton and bring a couple of good results back home for our first game here at the end of month.
I’ve had a week off since coming back from the Caribbean. But I’m fit and ready.
I bowled 40 overs in six days, including my overs in preparation for the Test Match. So my loads are fully up.
I also took the choice when the third Test was on to continue bowling and have this week off and then build back up afterwards.
I just thought it best to take advantage of guaranteed weather in the Caribbean. It was a bit warmer out there than it is here, that’s for sure.
