11 November - Kolkata - England player David Willey post-match press conference

[Reporter:]

Could you tell us what your emotions are right now after what's been a pretty roller coaster couple of months I guess from the point where you found out about the contract to wrapping it up today and reaching 100.

[David Willey:]

Mixed, I think. Looking back to being a kid I could only have dreamt of playing as many games of cricket for England, so I'm immensely proud of that. To be in a dressing room with so many quality players, I've been very fortunate to be a part of that and play my part in that. But it's at the same time I'm sad, I don't think anybody ever wants to walk away from playing for their country it's all I ever wanted to do but at the same time, my timing of my announcement was so I can enjoy my last three games and I've very much done that and on the phone my wife this morning she said go on - just get to 100 wickets it'd be a nice way to finish and to do that was a nice way for me personally.

[Reporter:]

Obviously, you've been the only one who's announced your retirement, but some older players knocking around, older than yourself, knocking around in the squad. Did today, beforehand, or during, or just now, feel like sort of an end of an era moment for this team?

[David Willey:]

I don't know it's been a bit of a bit of a whirlwind to be honest. Does it feel like an end of an era. Look, I think immediately there's probably going to be a little bit of a shuffle. I think they go over to the Caribbean in a couple of weeks' time, there'll be some new faces there, start of a new cycle, next World Cup in four years. So, inevitably there'll be a few guys that don't make that, but they'll probably have a bit of a reshuffle immediately, and then they'll probably settle down and start planning towards that.

[Reporter:]

With the performances you've been able to put in the last three or four games, do you still - You spoke about sadness, do you still feel like you're playing cricket at international standard? And is that the frustration that you're not walking away when your time is done?

[David Willey:]

Yeah, I think so. I mean my time is done because I've called time on it, but it's with deep regret, I think. I think anybody looking in has probably looked at the way I've gone about my business and probably playing the best cricket of my career. I'm 33, as fit as I've ever been. So, one of the reasons that I wasn't offered a contract was them going in a different direction after the World Cup, I don't know why.

[Reporter:]

you were part of the rebuilding 15 bunch of younger players coming in to sort of set the thing off on a new direction. Do you think there's a group of players out there sort of the same ability and same hunger to do that as you guys were in 15?

[David Willey:]

Yeah, definitely. I think the depth, you only have to have looked at the last couple of years of white ball cricket, I think through COVID, where the whole new squad was picked to play against Pakistan, I think it was. And then the guys that just played against Ireland as well. There's so many good players in the English game at the minute is really excited. So, there'll be people knocking on the door and there's certainly going to be some competition for places.

[Reporter:]

A bit of a follow-up. I mean, there is talk about how much of this team is going to be there going forward? Yesterday Malan said it might be his last game that is I mean we are thinking about Stokes, Moeen and others but yours was very clear-cut you are applauded onto the pitch by your teammates so how was it playing that match and how did you feel going into the field today?

[David Willey:]

Yeah, it was mixed emotions it's nice to be able to go out there with clarity on what I'm doing beyond this. My situation with England has always been, I know I'm on the fringe. I'm next in if there's an injury, very much a squad player. And I've been very much at peace with that, but it doesn't mean it's easy to be in that position, never knowing where you stand from tour to tour. So, look, to go out there and just be able to enjoy my last game of cricket for England was lovely - the boys have been great. It made it special for me walking out there first. It was a special moment. And they're memories that I'll cherish forever.

[Reporter:]

Was there ever a point where you attempted to carry on maybe until that T20 World Cup next summer or was it made clear to you that you probably wouldn't be in England's plans for that?

[David Willey:]

I think being told that they're likely to go in a different direction after the World Cup. I think that was the final nail in the coffin for me. I think, I believe that I could still be a part of that World Cup and an injury or two, and they're going to be calling on someone with very little to no experience in World Cups. So yeah, look I think I could still have played a part in that World Cup. I feel like I'm probably playing my best cricket. So that was part of my decision-making with my family, but it's been a period for some time now and like I've just touched on not knowing quite where I stand with England and it's just taken its toll and becomes very tiring.

[Reporter:]

If there were injuries and the run up to June and you were to get a call from somebody, could you be tempted back for one last go or is that definitely it for you?

[David Willey:]

I don't think never say never but right now I'm very confident my decision that today was my last game of cricket for England. Do I want to go to the Caribbean and run drinks and not know where I stand and just feel like a third wheel again which is very much what I felt like when I turned up at Lords and being the only one without a contract, probably not so I'm done

[Reporter:]

Mickey Arthur was here before you and he made a brutally honest confession that Pakistan had finished number five because they deserved to finish there.

Now, given where England finished and the fact that you are the world champions, and definitely, I think, everybody expected you more to be in the last four, do you think That's where England deserve to finish at number seven.

[David Willey:]

Yeah, we've won three games, so we've got six points.

[Reporter]

And for a world champion team to come into a tournament with holders and then to have a tournament like this, just how difficult is it in the dressing room, particularly for the players to maybe focus? I'm just curious about the environment of a world champ, the holders, having a terrible tournament.

[David Willey:]

Well, the environment's good. A great group of players that work extremely hard, we've just underperformed. What else do you want to know? We've finished on what, six points? So that's where we finished. Good bunch of players that get on well.

[Reporter:]

Just as you look back on your international career, I'm just wondering, is there a particular moment or a particular thing about being part of that that really stands out to you as being the best and what is that?

[David Willey:]

Look, I think it's been a roller coaster for me. I remember vividly feeling in 2019, falling out of love with the game. Around that time, having been left out of the World Cup and then COVID hit, had an extended period with no cricket and they picked two squads. One was against Ireland for white ball cricket and there was a test match squad as well. And I joined up for that sort of return to play group and thought I'm probably only getting this opportunity because they've got a pick and a large group of players and I promised myself on that day when we went out and played against Ireland, every time that I played cricket from there on, I was going to make sure I enjoyed it because I don't know whether it's going to be my last. I think that's stuck with me over these last few years that I have to go out there and make sure I'm enjoying it. I think the time has come in the last few months and things where I've started looking over my shoulder not knowing where I've been and it's led me to the decision I've made. But the fond memories, I think, winning that World Cup in Australia, I didn't actually play a game. But from my journey from 2019 to have my family there two children running on the outfield afterwards two kids in the line with the whole team running up to the Barmy Army at the MCG. An incredible memory not just for me, but for my whole family and sort of encapsulates and celebrates my journey from falling out of love with the game to finding my way back in and I guess the resilience that I've had to overcome the disappointments along the way.

[Reporter:]

You said how much you just wanted to enjoy these last few games, but just on yourself from getting selected for the World Cup to you making the decision, how much did it play on your mind just knowing that you were the only one out here without the contract I mean how frustrating was that?

[David Willey:]

Yeah, look I think if I'm being brutally honest now look, I wasn't sure whether I was going to come to the World Cup even to the 11th hour when we were, the morning that we were joining up at Lords, I still wasn't sure whether I'd make the trip or not. So, from then on it was something that was on my mind. And look, it's not just that I haven't been offered a contract. it's sort of how I feel valued as an England player there when I look down that list of other guys that have got contracts. So yeah, it had been on my mind. I'd spoken with my family, I'd spoken with Jos, Motty – and then it came to the decision that the time was right for me to call it a day and to make sure that I did enjoy my last few games of cricket because it's special, wearing this shirt is special and I didn't want to walk away with tainted memories of playing for my country.

[Reporter:]

Was it just something that played on your mind in the first few weeks over here?

[David Willey:]

No, it had been on my mind for some time. You only have to look at the global landscape now, ultimately, for us as players cricket is a business. And for me, never knowing, not having a contract with England, not knowing what tournaments I can commit to. I find myself in a position where I'm constantly, I don't know what I'm doing all year round. Now, that's not easy for me. It's not easy for my wife. It's not easy for my kids. And I had to take control of that at some stage. So, all rolled up over a period of time, looking at that and trying to juggle it and manage it, from playing cricket, enjoying it, making money, making sure I'm spending some time with my family, became difficult.