David Willey: England contract snub was 'final nail in coffin'

David Willey has described not being awarded a central contract by England as "the final nail in the coffin" of his international career, following the announcement of his retirement earlier in the week.

Willey, 33, called time on an eight-year England career that had seen him play more than 100 times in the white-ball formats, as well as collecting a T20 World Cup winner's medal. But speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted to being "upset, angry and disappointed" at being the only member of England's ODI World Cup squad left out of the batch of contracts for 2023-24 and beyond, saying it had made his decision to retire easier.

"That for me was probably the final nail in the coffin really, and made my decision a lot easier," he said. "These conversations around contracts all happened before we came out. So when we joined up at Lord's [before flying to India for the ODI World Cup], I knew I was the only one that didn't have one. It was difficult.

"I feel with two World Cups in 12 months, knowing my position in the squad, should there be injuries or whatever, I'm a chance and feel like I'm always a chance. I'm not involved in how these [things] are put together, who selects them. I don't necessarily have to agree with them. But you know, there are decisions that are made and I have to respect them and, and I make decisions based on how I feel around them.

"[I was] upset, angry, disappointed. But as I said, I respect their decision. Don't have to agree with it and it made my decision a lot easier."

Willey has rarely been a default pick for England but battled back into contention after the disappointment of being left out of the 2019 World Cup squad at the last minute, with Jofra Archer parachuted into the side. He was involved in the 2022 T20 World Cup win - although didn't play a game at the tournament in Australia - having previously been part of the XI beaten in the final of the 2016 event.

He has also had to juggle involvement in franchise T20 tournaments with family life and playing for England. Willey has signed up for the ILT20 in January and could be retained for the subsequent IPL, having also appeared in the Big Bash, PSL and SA20.

"So over the last six to eight months, the landscape's changing," he said. "It's always been hard for me to make sure I'm in [England] squads and I've got no guarantees, and the anxiety leading up to every selection. Then when I am playing, looking over my shoulder, it starts to weigh heavy on you and I've done that for a long time now.

"I was desperate to play in this World Cup and it was great to be here. But you know all that rolled into one. I just felt I've given my all and I don't think I can to do that anymore."

Having been left out at the start of the ongoing ODI World Cup, Willey has been one of England's better performers after coming into the side, taking five wickets in three games. But with their World Cup defence effectively over, he decided now was the time to make an announcement on his future.

"Towards the back end of the summer, I knew it was always going to be around this time. I knew it was coming. I wasn't sure what my involvement would be in the white-ball stuff in England before we came. [I] made the side here, and I've managed to get into the side and perform.

"I just feel that there's not very many opportunities in cricket to walk away when the time is right for you. And I really wanted to finish my career, whatever my involvement is in these last three games, able to enjoy it, and not carrying the weight of this decision, and looking over my shoulder thinking if I'm not performing, I'm out of the side again

"To have played three games …and that game against India, full crowd in a World Cup in India. I walked out to bat there, they were doing a strobe light show, you know, and I thought as I walked down the steps, I thought I'm done."