Willey signs new one-year deal at Headingley after tensions ease between player and club
Friday 15 June 2018 08:19, UK
David Willey says Yorkshire threatened to rip up his contract earlier this year after his last-minute signing for IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.
England all-rounder Willey joined the Super Kings as a late injury replacement and went on to play in three matches for MS Dhoni's men, who defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
The 28-year-old subsequently missed the early weeks of the county season but says tensions have now eased and that he has signed a new one-year deal with the Tykes.
"I was threatened with them ripping my contract up - which wasn't great - but that has all been resolved now," said Willey, currently with England for the one-day series against Australia.
"I've signed another year at Yorkshire and I still want to play all formats. I may not be around as much as Yorkshire would like at the minute, but I see myself as having a long-term benefit to the county I'm at.
"Certainly I'd like to win a County Championship. Hopefully I can play a lot more red-ball cricket and be a part of a Championship-winning side with Yorkshire in the years to come."
Reflecting on his IPL move, which Willey says helped him rediscover his 'love for cricket', the left-armer added: "I think the landscape of the modern game is changing, and I do think counties should try and work with it rather than work against it - and look at the longer-term picture.
We're delighted David has agreed to remain at Yorkshire until the end of 2019 and we hope his stay will go well beyond that. He is a very talented and valuable all-round cricketer for us, and we look forward to having a player of his calibre at our disposal.
"I think if counties had that outward look at these competitions as a longer-term benefit it would be better for everyone involved. There would be less arguments and fall-outs along the way.
"It was a no-brainer [to sign for Chennai]. You don't get the chance to go and play in the biggest Twenty20 competition in the world every day.
"I found my love for the game again while I was out there, and I really do think I've become a student of the game again. I've also learnt a lot from a tactical, mental and skill point of view."
Willey bagged 1-41 from eight overs in the one-day series opener against Australia at the Oval on Wednesday and knows he will go for runs looking to pitch the ball up early on in search of wickets.
"I need to make sure I am swinging that new ball and taking wickets inside that powerplay," added Willey, whose unbeaten 35 later in the day secured England a three-wicket win. "I might get driven a few times - but with the sideways movement, I'm in the game.
"You have to force yourself to get it up there, but we have backing of the captain and the coaches. I'm pretty sure if I got 2-20 in my first couple of overs they wouldn't be disappointed, because early wickets on flat pitches are massively important."
Watch the second ODI, from Cardiff, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 10.30am on Saturday.
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