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Phil Salt insists he would \u201cbe there in a heartbeat\u201d if England needed him as a World Cup reserve in India.<\/p>\n
Jason Roy had been earmarked as the next man in should injury create a vacancy at the top of the order during the tournament, but the 33-year-old was stung by his last-minute omission from the squad and is currently on retirement watch after turning down a place in the Metro Bank Series against Ireland.<\/p>\n
That means there is plenty to play for those who will be involved on Saturday at Trent Bridge and Tuesday in Bristol, with players on the periphery jostling to catch the selectors\u2019 eye.<\/p>\n
A modest total of just 14 ODI caps is still enough to make Salt the most experienced member of a second string with just 38 between them and a strong showing against the boys in green could help him inch one step closer to inking his name in as first-choice replacement.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe haven\u2019t had that conversation as yet. I\u2019d imagine if that was to happen, it would be a little bit further down the line, probably after this series,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I know it\u2019s an opportunity to stake a claim to a reserve spot and, obviously, if I got the call I\u2019d be there in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a young group here but it\u2019s an exciting group who have done very well, whether that\u2019s playing for their counties or in opportunities in franchise cricket or the Hundred.<\/p>\n
\u201cComing into the dressing room and seeing how many proven performers we have sitting under the radar of the full-strength squad, I think it\u2019s quite an exciting opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
If I got the call I’d be there in a heartbeat<\/p>\n
Salt\u2019s aggressive ball-striking and ability to double up as a wicketkeeper has earned him plenty of interest on the franchise circuit and he has previously turned out in domestic competitions in India, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan and the West Indies.<\/p>\n
The vast sums available on the franchise scene is becoming a huge issue for boards to contend with as they seek to preserve the primacy of international cricket, with an avalanche of retirements expected to follow the completion of the World Cup.<\/p>\n
At 27, and with plenty of unfulfilled ambitions at the highest level, Salt insists he is not tempted by life as a global freelancer but accepts that the appeal will only go up as the years progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s probably quite a personal question for some people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people are at the stage of career where they are prioritising, earning money and securing their future and their family\u2019s future. I\u2019m a bit luckier in the position that I\u2019m in where I\u2019ve got time to make these calls and declare what I want to do.<\/p>\n
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\u201cRight now, I just want to play as many games as I can for England. There\u2019s a lot of franchise opportunities out there, but every game I can get in an England shirt, I want to take the opportunity with both hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s no doubt if I play as long as I want to, there will be a time where, like with every other professional cricketer, you\u2019ve got that challenge where you\u2019ve got to make decisions for yourself. It\u2019s a hell of a question isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n