No calls to England, no contract with a hundred and sending out on loan: what happened to Matt Parkinson?

Matt Parkinson looks set to leave Lancashire at the end of the season. Photo: Getty Images/Gareth Copley

Twelve months ago, Matt Parkinson was the darling of English cricket.

Among the pockets of English supporters, there was considerable disappointment and anxiety that he had brought so many drinks and received so few international opportunities in different formats. It reached its climax during the Caribbean tour last March, when flat pitches left them desperate for a difference.

In the white ball formats, meanwhile, some saw him as Adil Rashid&#39. ; heir.

Parkinson did make a belated and unusual test debut, cutting short a trip to the Lake District for a barbecue to head to Lord's, where he became Jack Leach's first concussion submarine in England. It was the first game of the era of baseball, and he delivered a clean, lively interview and seemed to enjoy the game and life, which made his fans love him even more.

Nearly a year later, Parkinson has become something of a forgotten man. He hasn't played for England since then and didn't even make the squad after Leach's good performance and the arrival of Rehan Ahmed. He was not drafted by the 100 and had to leave Lancashire on loan (to Durham when their spinner Matt Kuehnemann was injured) to play in the cricket championship last month. Rumor has it that he and his boyhood club no longer see eye to eye, and it is likely that he will move at the end of the season when his contract runs out.

All of which means that as Vitality Blast season 21 kicks off in an unusual way — a double hit in Edgbaston called Blast Off!, in the middle of the county championship round — on Saturday Parkinson will be the most interesting player on the show, even more so than his exes. England colleagues Johnny Barstow and Chris Wookes.

Parkinson was one of the best Lancashire Lightning players in Vitality Blast. Authors: PA/Mike Egerton

Parkinson, 26, played Lancashire's first game of the season against Surrey at Old Trafford and took five wickets when the champions pressed for a third innings. He took one wicket in his match against Durham, leaving him with a very respectable first-class record of 151 wickets at an average of 25.9.

But Parkinson stayed at Durham because he was replaced by Tom Hartley, a 24-year-old left spinner. The decision is clear enough: Hartley is a tall, finger-playing player whose rebounding has given him a fielding lead early in the season (although he's only taken five wickets in four games), and the No. 8 bats, on average, are more than comfortable. 64 this year.

However, Lancashire has drawn every match this year, so perhaps a wrist spinner would be useful. Hartley was also hired by the Manchester Originals in the hundred, the team that released Parkinson. At Old Trafford, Parkinson has a first-class average under 25, and among teenagers an average score in Blast and Hundred.

It's tough on Parkinson because the reasons for Hartley's preference are the same ones that have followed him throughout his career: weak hitting and playing on the field and perhaps feeling like he's pitching too slowly for Test cricket and without the necessary variation. for Game. top-tier white ball cricket wrist — unlike Ahmed or Mason Crane, not to mention Rashid. Parkinson doesn't have a big set of tricks, just an outstanding ball.

There is now a growing sense that he has let his disappointment affect his attitude. It should be noted that it was a difficult few years for Parkinson after the sudden death of his mother in 2019.

The near future may not be easy. He is not alone in the youngster's lack of playing time: Amar Virdi and Dan Moriarty have yet to play for Surrey this year, and Crane is playing his first game for Hampshire this week.

He also plays. is not the only company that ran out of contract this year and the market could prove difficult. Virdi and Moriarty's deals are done, as is Callum, Parkinson's bowling left twin, currently injured in Leicestershire. Durham seems like a possible destination for Callum when counties can start talking to players from June 1st. Opportunities for M. Parkinson look set to come from the biggest constituencies in Division One.

Parkinson has been among the most consistent players in the Blast in recent years, and any divisions in Lancashire will most certainly not be so deep that he, too, will remain in this format.

The tournament provides him with opportunities: to fight for a place in the 100, to remind people of his qualities and just to play.