Aussie bowler infamous for crude graffiti declares interest in England defection

An Aussie-born bowler who was once suspended for scratching a penis and testicles onto a cricket pitch has declared his ambitions to play for England and become the first player in 125 years to switch allegiances from one to the other.

Dan Worrall, a former South Australia seamer who featured in three one-day internationals for Australia in 2016, is on track to become eligible for England next year and could emerge as a surprise option on the back of his stunning form in county cricket.

Dan Worrall played three one-dayers for Australia in 2016 but will be eligible for England this time next year.Credit: Getty

He holds a British passport due to family heritage and is classified as a local player for Surrey, with whom he has won two titles and has just clocked past 100 first-class wickets after match figures of 8-91 against Hampshire.

Worrall, who turns 33 in July, would be a long shot but his three-year stand-down period, after which he would be available to play for his adopted country, ends in April 2025.

No player has represented both nations since Albert Trott’s two Tests for England in 1899 followed three matches with Australia four years earlier. Since the advent of limited-overs cricket, a player is yet to represent both nations.

“There’s still at least 300 overs for me to bowl [this season] before that’s even considered,” he told London’s Daily Telegraph.

“The way the rules are, it’s three years since being a local player in England, so I suppose that would be next April.

“I’m ready to go if I’m required, but I’ve learned in my time that as soon as you think that far ahead, you’re kidding yourself.

“When I started at Surrey I did so with the mindset that I had sort of another full career ahead of me. And I always had an ambition to play in England as an Englishman and have a career in England.”

Worrall played for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield for a decade and represented the Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, but is perhaps best known for earning a bizarre ban for conduct that “brought the game of cricket into disrepute” after a Futures League match in 2014.

The offending 2014 graffiti.Credit: Twitter/Paul Amy

His crime was sketching out the crude visage of male genitals onto the pitch at Toorak Park in Melbourne – presumably some form of personal celebration after SA’s 67-run victory over Victoria, in which he took five wickets.

Worrall pleaded guilty to the charge but appealed his sentence – a suspension of two four-day matches or four one-day or Twenty20 matches – which was ultimately upheld.

“We are extremely disappointed in Daniel’s actions, it’s not in line with the behaviour we expect of a Redbacks player,” SA Cricket’s high-performance manager Jamie Cox said at the time.

“We do believe this out of character for Daniel.”

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