Wainwright finding it hard to keep everyone happy

Tykes spinner David Wainwright is expected to play for Castleford tomorrow in a continued bid to steady a career that reached the heights of the England Lions last winter but has subsided in 2010 through injury and complications in his bowling action.

“The Lions helped me a lot because I was speaking to people I would never have come into contact with otherwise,” admits 25-year-old Wainwright.

“I changed my action to get more momentum and drive towards the batsman but in doing that, it seems I’ve aggravated my knee and this change seems to be the cause.

“When I was with England, all the changes made sense and I was bowling as well as I’ve ever bowled. But adjusting to life back at Yorkshire was tough.

“I just found it hard to explain the changes and keep both parties happy.”

Wainwright remains a rookie in terms of experience, with just 30 first-class matches under his belt, although his Twenty20 record is impressive with 13 wickets in 15 games.

Now it seems the dysfunctional relationship between the county system and the international ranks is threatening, rather than assisting, his development.

Wainwright said: “Yorkshire sent me away telling me that I was bowling well. Then I get to England Lions and they look to take me to the next level.

“Yorkshire’s argument would be whether I would have reached that level doing what I was doing anyway.

“If I ever got back to those squads, I’d have to take those things on board but stand up and be my own man.”

After an injection in his knee, Wainwright has been told to focus on the Roses Championship match starting on Monday as a possible return date.

His absence at county level has not been felt acutely in the Friends Provident Twenty20 thanks to the form of Azeem Rafiq and Bradfordian Adil Rashid.

But long-term, the last six months for Wainwright could prove to be Yorkshire’s loss.

Yorkshire host Leicestershire at Headingley in the FP T20 on Sunday (11am).