Matt Parkinson admits it is a frustration that he has not yet made his List A debut for Lancashire, but the England Lions leg-spinner is hoping to make up for lost time in the forthcoming Royal London One-Day Cup.
The 21-year-old has impressed for the Red Rose in both County Championship and Twenty20 cricket since making his first-team bow in 2016, although his debut in the latter format did not come until last year.
A stress fracture in his back ruled him out of the early stages of last summer, including the RL50 group stages, but he returned to fitness and impressed in the T20 Blast, prompting the England selectors to hand him a place in their squad for March’s one-day Lions series against West Indies A in Antigua.
They also picked him to play in the three-match North v South series in Barbados that followed - in which he was an ever-present, and a key figure in the North's 2-1 win.
So, he heads into Thursday’s opener against defending champions Notts Outlaws at Emirates Old Trafford, televised and under lights (2pm), with 12 wickets from six List A appearances to his name.
“If selected,” he said, sounding a note of caution. “I was out injured for last year for most of the comp.
“But I’d like to think that if I was fit, I’d have been in contention to play. The year before, I was only 19. It was frustrating last year that I didn’t get to play any, especially having gone on to do well in the Blast.
“It’s been nice to play 50-over cricket for the Lions, the level up, and show that I can play that format.
“Hopefully, I can do a job for Lancashire and help us have some success.”
“It’s been nice to play 50-over cricket for the Lions, the level up, and show that I can play that format.”
Parkinson returned a best haul of 4-26 as the Lions earned a consolatory win against West Indies A in Antigua, losing the series 2-1 - setting him up for those performances for the North.
“I thought I went quite well in the West Indies,” he continued. “The wickets in the West Indies are suited to spin. Their surfaces are getting more and more like the sub-continent. It turned in both Antigua and Barbados.
“It was just nice to be playing some 50-over cricket and judging yourself against some of the best players in the West Indies and the next up and coming crop in England.”
Lancashire have under-achieved in 50-over cricket recently. They have not reached a final since the 2006 Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy when they were beaten by Sussex. Parkinson, incidentally, was aged nine.
Last season, they failed to get out of the group stages.
“You’d probably say we have under-achieved,” said Parkinson. “We haven’t made a final since I’ve been a professional other than the Twenty20 in 2015. But the lads are looking to put that right this year in both formats.”
As for Notts, they are not only defending champions in the 50-over competition. but also holders of the Vitality Blast.
Parkinson added: “They are going to be a good test for us. If we can beat them, it’s a good benchmark for us for the rest of the tournament.”
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