DAVID Willey says he has regained his childhood enthusiasm for cricket after coming to terms with his World Cup heartbreak last year.

Yorkshire’s T20 captain was left out of England’s final squad for their triumphant campaign, with Jofra Archer favoured.

It hit all-rounder Willey hard and was followed by some personal challenges at home, meaning he almost missed some county cricket.

Now, things are different. In the winter, he took over from Steve Patterson as Yorkshire’s Vitality Blast skipper, he has recently set up his own coaching business and has been given a second chance with England in white-ball cricket.

On Thursday, he arrived at Southampton to start a three-week training camp ahead of the forthcoming three-match Royal London Series against Ireland. He is one of 24 players in the training group and will be hoping to make the final squad.

And his mantra is very much, ‘No pressure’.

“For me, this has come at absolutely the right time,” he said.

“I’ve had an extended break given what’s happened. It’s been great to have some time away and reflect, and I’ve got a much better understanding of what’s happened to me over the last year or two.

“I’ve got the fire back in my belly, and I’m hungry for it again, which being honest I’d lost.

“I’m really excited and pleased with where I’m at physically and with my cricket. It’s a great opportunity.

“What’s the worst that can happen? I don’t get picked.

“Well, I got dropped from the World Cup squad just over 12 months ago. I’ve dealt with the worst that’s ever going to happen in my cricket career.

“I’m just going to go out and enjoy myself. What will be will be.”

No doubt, 30-year-old Willey - capped 74 times by England in one-day and T20 cricket - is at his best with both bat and ball when he’s aggressive.

But he admitted: “I spent probably my last period with England looking over my shoulder, worried about selection and performance.

“And that went away from what made me successful in getting to that point. That was going out there with passion and competitiveness. I feel like I’m back there now.

“This opportunity is a great chance to go out and play for the reasons I started playing as a young boy.”

Willey will miss Yorkshire’s upcoming two-day red ball friendlies against Lancashire and Durham due to his call-up.

But, should he not make the final England cut, he expects to immediately return to Emerald Headingley and challenge for a place in the four-day team to play in the Bob Willis Trophy, starting on August 1.

He said: “As great as it was getting the call to say I’m back with England, I’m just as excited by the chance to get out there with Yorkshire again.

“For everybody involved, players, coaches, supporters and sponsors at all levels - the ECB as well, it’s great news we can all get out and play or watch some cricket over the next couple of months.”

While Willey has eyes on progressing his playing career, he has also made a start on looking further ahead through ‘David Willey Coaching’.

In a nutshell, the concept is for him to offer virtual advice to budding cricketers across the world who are looking to progress. Players will send him videos to assess and provide feedback on.

“Given everything that’s happened recently, it’s brought virtual things more into the public conscious,” he explained.

“And, at the moment, the cricket schedule being 12 months of the year makes it far harder for me to commit physically.

“I don’t necessarily want this to be a one-off session thing where they send me a video, I send some feedback and then don’t see them again.

“I’d like to keep in touch. We could also develop the tactical side of things.

“My plan is to run a social media competition for people to get some tasters, so they can see how it works. I’m excited by it.

“I want to make myself accessible to people who maybe look up to me or want to have someone coaching them who is currently playing at the highest level.

“I was very lucky to have my dad (Peter) to lean on, but a lot of lads I grew up with didn’t have any access to that kind of experience as juniors.

“If you’d have asked me about coaching 10 years ago, I’d have told you I’d got no interest. But since then I’ve played all around the world and under some of the best - and possibly some of the worst - coaches.

“I feel like I’ve got a passion for helping to develop players. I loved it this winter helping some of the young Yorkshire lads.”

For more information, visit www.davidwilleycoaching.com