Daniel Sams named as Australia finalises 21-man squad for white-ball tour of England

Daniel Sams was charging into bowl in the nets with his NSW teammates on Friday when his apple watch buzzed with the name ‘Trevor Hohns’. The Aussie selection chairman had some good news.

Daniel Sams is heading over to the UK.

Three years ago Daniel Sams was a grade cricketer, happy to be just that. Now he’s on a plane to England with a shot at World Cup glory.

Australia ushered in a new generation for its 21-man strong one-day and T20 squad to head to the UK next Sunday, but left out star Usman Khawaja in its first journey into the ever-changing COVID cricket era.

West Australian keeper-batsman Josh Philippe, Tasmanian firebrand Riley Meredith and Sydney fast man Sams are the new faces for the squad that will play six internationals and a bunch of warm-up matches inside a bio-security bubble in England before returning to two weeks in quarantine in Perth in November.

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Sams caught the eye playing for Sydney Thunder in last season’s Big Bash.

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Batsman Khawaja has missed the squad leaving his international future clouded, though Nathan Lyon and Marcus Stoinis are back in favour after the Government gave the bold tour the green light.

Sams was charging into bowl in the nets with his NSW teammates on Friday when his apple watch buzzed with the name “Trevor Hohns”.

The 27-year-old couldn’t take the call from the national selector, but somehow put his head down for the rest of the session without letting his mind wonder to what the call meant for one of the great stories of perseverance in Australian cricket which says plenty about the silver lining of being a late bloomer.

“It was actually kind of a good challenge (getting the call), because it was a distraction like you get in a game,” said Sams.

“I had to focus back.”

Daniel Sams can’t wait for his first taste of international action.

But he called back Hohns after training, the magnitude of his achievement sunk in.

Sams was playing grade cricket for Randwick-Petersham at an age when most cricketers have either made it or given up.

He had a stint in New Zealand first-class cricket, before a breakout season last year for NSW and in the Big Bash where he was the competition’s leading wicket-taker at the Sydney Thunder.

With the T20 World Cup in October now postponed to next year, suddenly Sams has a golden crack at a shot at cricket’s ultimate prize – and he wouldn’t change any part of his long road to the top.

“Yeah I actually think it’s a blessing in disguise for me. When I was 23, 24 I don’t think I was ready for it mentally,” said Sams.

Steve Smith with Pat Cummins. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It’s a real interesting one because kids get selected, not that it’s a negative or a positive, but they may not be ready for it. They’re picked to bleed them in and be ready … but for me personally anyway, this way is better. I’ve been able to learn my craft and learn what I do and how I go about it and what works and then get picked at the peak of that. Instead of figuring it out at the highest level.”

Sams said he is not overawed by featuring in an attack with the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

“It’s not about comparing myself … (or asking) do I belong with this group of people? For me it’s about, ‘I’m in this team for a reason, what’s my role. Let’s do that role,’” he said.

“That’s how I fit into this group. It’s realising how you belong, rather than, ‘oh there’s all these big names, how do I fit in with them?’

“It’s awesome recognition of what I’ve put in and the success I’ve had over the past couple of years.

“The World Cup being delayed has probably only done me a bit of a favour – it gives me more time to put some performances on the board and hopefully if I get a run in England I’ll be able to take that opportunity and put my name forward for the World Cup later on.”

Originally published as Daniel Sams named as Australia finalises 21-man squad for white-ball tour of England