James Vince delighted to reach 'ultimate goal' with England

One man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity and for James Taylor and James Vince there is a bittersweet twist to that old saying ahead of the first Test of the English summer at Headingley this week.

Taylor would have been in England’s team for the series opener against Sri Lanka on Thursday were it not for the cruellest twist of fate – a serious heart condition that was uncovered last month and forced the promising batsman to retire from cricket at the age of 26. We know that because Alastair Cook, England’s Test captain, said so in the wake of his former team-mate’s diagnosis with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (AVRC).

So, instead of taking part in practice at Headingley and looking to build on his successful winter tour of South Africa, Taylor was at the Leeds venue today working for the England & Wales Cricket Board’s website, interviewing the men he was sharing a dressing-room with less than three months ago.

Taylor’s place in the squad has been taken by Vince, who will make his Test debut in Leeds on Thursday.

Headingley was, of course, where Taylor started his own Test career in the summer of 2012 against South Africa, a match best remembered for Kevin Pietersen’s audacious 149 and his infamous “it’s difficult being me” implosion in the post-match press conference.

Vince’s first media appearance as a Test cricketer was rather less memorable but the 26-year-old spoke fondly of the man he once succeeded as captain of England Lions and who he will now follow as the senior team’s No 5 batsman. “I did quite a few Lions tours with James,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate and sad what happened - that his career had to be cut short. But in a way he was lucky that they found it when they did. I’ve spoken to him via a few text messages.”

Vince’s ascension to Test level was smoothed by a fighting early-season County Championship century for Hampshire against champions Yorkshire at Headingley last month. “Having some runs under my belt here gives me confidence for Thursday,” he said. “Generally my game has felt in pretty good touch this season so it is good time to start in an England shirt.”

Having played four T20s for England and also made his one-day debut, albeit in an abandoned match against Ireland in Dublin last year, Vince is no stranger to international cricket. However, he admits the prospect of playing his first Test is the realisation of a life-long dream.

“Yes, it is definitely a dream come true,” said Vince. “Coming up here on Monday it really sunk in and it is something I have been aiming for since I was a kid so it is a very proud moment. I’ve been a part of the T20 side, it is good to be involved in and good fun but for me the ultimate thing is Test cricket. It is a bit more hard work. I still enjoy the shorter formats but I think the ultimate goal for me has always been to play Test cricket.”

In Vince England have a batsman who looked destined to be called into the Test squad this summer regardless of Taylor’s health. Ultimately it’s Nick Compton, the most underwhelming of picks at three, who can count himself fortunate to still be playing Test cricket after a mediocre series in South Africa. Don’t count against Vince moving up the order to replace Compton by summer’s end.

That’s because the Hampshire batsman is a much better fit for England’s attacking ethos than Compton, whose staid and steady approach at the top of the order is not without merit but flies in the face of the philosophy of playing with freedom espoused by coach Trevor Bayliss.

It’s an approach Vince has embraced. “The freedom is there for everyone to see and it has reflected in the results,” he said. “I didn’t feel under pressure when I went into the side in the Twenty20 squad over the winter, you are told to express yourself, play the way you play, that’s why you have been picked.

“I didn’t play for England in the past but definitely in this team you are not under pressure to do anything different. The majority of people in the T20 and ODI squad, the guys have played how they have done for their county with no fear and it’s good to watch.”

If things had been different Vince may have made a career for himself in professional football. “I was a centre-back,” he said. “About the time I had to make a choice I got released by the Reading Academy and was picked up by the Hampshire one. So they swapped over a bit and I’ve stuck with cricket from then on.”

Things have not worked out too badly for him since then.