Lancashire's Matt Parkinson seeks X-Factor down south before homing in for Tests

Lancashire’s Parkinson is one of five spinners who will travel to the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday. They will train, rest and sleep at the ‘bio-secure’ venue before an intra-squad match from July 1-3, representing the final opportunity to earn a Test call-up.

Parkinson has likened the process to popular television show ‘The X Factor’ and the leg-spinner hopes to earn a place for the first Test in Southampton, starting July 8.

The other Tests will be staged at his home ground and Parkinson said: “It does spin at Emirates Old Trafford and it is the sort of pitch where they sometimes do play two spinners. It’s up to me to perform well and stay in the ‘ X-Factor’ judges’ houses and try to perform well. Fingers crossed when they do cut some players it’s not me.”

As for the trip to the south coast, he added: “I’m going to try to make it as homely as possible, take my coffee machine down with me. I’ve got a good number of books to read and I’m going to take my PlayStation down as well.”

“But I’m not a big golfer, that’s not my cup of tea so I’ll probably chill.”

Parkinson made his international debuts in both limited-overs last winter, playing two Twenty20s against New Zealand before two one-day internationals against South Africa, but he initially struggled with the red ball.

A couple of underwhelming displays in warm-ups led to questions about his gentle pace and whether he would be capable at Test level, but he then returned figures of four for 68 in a practice match in Sri Lanka.

The tour was then aborted because of the coronavirus pandemic, and any initial disappointment at perhaps missing out on a maiden Test appearance quickly subsided because of the unfolding global events.

“When it first got cancelled I was gutted, I thought I could potentially miss out on maybe playing or being close to playing,” he said.

“But as things have unfolded and got worse and worse, you start seeing it for what it is, which is a game.

“Three months ago I was gutted because I didn’t do enough in New Zealand or South Africa with the red-ball to warrant selection and the warm-up games didn’t go as well as I would have wanted.

“To have ticked that sort of box in the lead-up to the Test match (in Sri Lanka), it was just nice to be in a bit more of a relaxed position and thinking, ‘I’ve actually done OK here.’

“The more you play the more you get used to the level you’re playing at. There probably is a couple of work-ons that I need to do to be successful at that level.

“You can’t just go with what’s worked at first-class cricket, which is what worked to get selected. There’s been some learnings had over the winter and fingers crossed that I’ve improved.”