England is ready to test their fast-bowling strength as they take on Australia in a five-match ODI series. With five games scheduled over 11 days, starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday, there will be a need to rotate the bowlers. This offers a chance for Hampshire’s 23-year-old John Turner to finally make his debut after being close to selection for a while.
Turner, who recently completed his economics and finance degree at Exeter University, has been on the edge of England’s white-ball team for more than a year. He was included in the squad for the T20I series against New Zealand last summer but had to withdraw due to injury. He also traveled to the Caribbean in December 2023 but didn’t get the opportunity to play.
Close to His First Cap
After spending last week as part of the squad during the drawn T20I series, Turner is expected to make his debut at some point during the ODIs against Australia. With Jofra Archer’s workload being carefully managed and three of England’s fast bowlers (Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, and Olly Stone) heading to Pakistan after the series ends on September 29, the stage seems set for Turner. Saqib Mahmood was also added to the squad, showing that regular changes will likely occur throughout the series.
Turner expressed his excitement about being part of the team, saying, “Just being in the squad is a great experience, but of course, you hope to debut at some point, and I hope that happens during this series. Being around the players helps you improve and learn naturally.”
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Learning and Growth
Turner, who moved to the UK from South Africa four years ago, has already made an impression with his pace. Last summer, during his first T20 campaign for Hampshire, he caught the attention of England selectors. Since then, he has consistently taken wickets, with a bowling average below 20 in all three formats.
England is looking for a bowler who can break partnerships in the middle overs, similar to Liam Plunkett. Jos Buttler, currently out with a calf injury, suggested last week that Turner could fill that role, saying, “Having high pace is a great way to take wickets in 50-over games.”
Rising Star
Turner has reached speeds of over 90 mph (145 kph) while playing for Trent Rockets this year. His Hundred season began in a strange way he was taken out of the attack after bowling two beamers in a row against London Spirit. However, he quickly bounced back, taking five wickets in his next two matches.
Turner enjoys the challenge of playing in the Hundred, especially with the pressure of constantly bowling against top players. He said, “After each game, I watch every ball back to see what speed I bowled. Sometimes, when you don’t try too hard, it just works out.”
Competition and Ambition
Turner is looking forward to the “healthy competition” among England’s fast bowlers during the ODI series. “I haven’t played with Jofra Archer yet, but if I see his speed on the board, I’ll naturally want to try and match him. I’m competitive by nature and will always want to bowl the fastest,” Turner added.
Even though Turner has only played twice in the County Championship this year, due to a knee injury and the tough competition in Hampshire’s bowling line-up, he has high ambitions across all formats. “Being around experienced players like Mohammad Abbas and Kyle Abbott has helped me improve a lot. I want to be an all-format player, competing in Tests, ODIs, and T20s,” Turner concluded.
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