Melbourne Stars batsman Luke Wright says the news that Alastair Cook had been sacked as England one-day captain came as a surprise.
Wright, 29, hasn't played for England in any format since touring the West Indies in March, and missed out on the 15-man World Cup squad, having been named in the preliminary group of 30. He will join former teammate Cook, and fellow Stars player Kevin Pietersen as onlookers when the English outfit begins its campaign against Australia at the MCG on February 14.
Wright didn't see the news coming, despite Cook's longstanding woes in the coloured clothing. "I was surprised because leading up to when he was cut, quite a few people back at home had come out and said they still saw him being captain. It's tough on him," Wright said from Brisbane on Friday. "I feel for Alastair, but I think like everyone back home we just want Alastair to get back to enjoying his cricket."
In a similar vein, Wright says he will still be satisfied even if he never adds to his own tally of 50 one-day internationals 51 Twenty20 internationals. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting to be in it anyway. I put myself in the shop window, and did as much as I could to get myself back in," he said. "I'd love to be part of the England side again,but I've had a great career with England, I've played over 100 games - there's nothing I'd change."
When Wright last came to these shores, he was an all-rounder. But persistent knee troubles have led to him all but giving up the ball, and the man once billed as the next Andrew Flintoff sent down just 51 overs in anger over the entire 2014 English domestic season
"I found myself training lots and getting sore, but not really being used with the ball that much at all for Sussex," he said. "Rather than keep getting sore and not bowling, I phased out and my batting form went through the roof," he said. "Whether I come back and bowl more in the future I'm not too sure but at the minute it's my body and my batting I'm not too sure because it's certainly helped."
Wright's start to the season has been mixed, with 45 off 37 balls against Adelaide, and 13 from 11 deliveries as the Stars failed to chase down the 190 set by a Darren Sammy-led Hobart side last Saturday night.
On Sunday as the Stars play the Brisbane Heat, Wright comes up against the man in whose shadow, all blond English all-rounders are destined to live: Flintoff, who is playing this summer for the Heat. Wright is looking forward coming up against the "all-rounder everyone wanted to be".
"I've got huge respect for Freddie. He's a great fella ... and always makes time for everyone."
The Stars will have to make do without Pietersen, who has returned to England for Christmas, and will be back for the team's next game. Wright - who has played with Pietersen at international level - says the controversy-courting batsman is "fitting in well" with the Stars.
The Stars will name their 13-man squad for the clash on Saturday.
