‘Matt Parkinson has to play Test cricket’- Former Lancashire cricketer

Matt Parkinson, the Lancashire spinner, was left out of England team for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. Paul Allott of Lancashire Cricket Club believes Matt Parkinson should play Test cricket for England. 

With the likes of Jack Leach and Craig Overton selected for the upcoming series against New Zealand, the in-form leg spinner has been ignored, and it has raised quite a few eyebrows in domestic cricket.

Parkinson is one of the leading wicket-takers in Division One this season. But despite playing for England in One-Day Internationals and T20 games, his search for an England Test cap continues. Lancashire's former player and Director of Cricket Allott is perplexed that the selectors have ignored a player of Parkinson's quality.

Allott commentated for Lancs TV during their clash against Essex and said, "Lord's in June isn't exactly the spot for a leg spinner if they weren't going to pick him on turning wickets in the West Indies. But I think, at some point, Matt Parkinson has to get picked to play for England. They have selected him in squads for a substantial amount of time.

That is as far as he has got. Now, if you are going to pick him in a squad, then I am assuming you think he will be able to play at some point and contribute in an England shirt. He has got to play, and they've got to find out about him, whether he is good enough to play at the international level." 

"I don't subscribe to the fact that he is not the best batsman or best fielder. But, whilst it is an argument, I'm not sure it's particularly valid because you are not going to say the same for quick bowlers or seam bowlers," he further added.

Allot believes Parkinson can get wickets when it matters, whether that's tieing up the tail in the first innings or bowling on a fifth day wearing pitch.

"To take four or five wickets to help win the game is far more valuable to you than getting a plucky 10 or 15 runs at number 11, in my view. So, I think they have got to make a decision. The new regime will make a decision whether Parkinson is going to make a contribution to English cricket," he concluded.