England has selected a 14-player squad for the first two Tests of a three-match series against the West Indies. The series begins at Lord’s on July 10, marking the final match for the legendary James Anderson, who has played 187 Tests and taken 700 wickets.
With Anderson’s last match and Stuart Broad’s retirement, England’s seam bowling lineup is set for changes. Among the new faces is right-arm fast bowler Dillon Pennington, who has been performing well for Nottinghamshire in Division 1 of the County Championship. As Pennington aims to earn his first Test cap against the West Indies, here are five interesting facts about him.
#5 Took Wickets of Alex Hales and Dawid Malan in The Hundred
In the 27th game of The Hundred Men’s competition in 2021, Pennington made a significant impact. Playing for Birmingham Phoenix against Trent Rockers, he dismissed well-known batsmen Dawid Malan and Alex Hales in his first 10 balls. Pennington gave away only 11 runs in his 15-ball spell, helping Birmingham Phoenix secure a 16-run victory while defending a total of 166 runs.
#4 Struggled with Dyslexia Throughout His Life
Despite his success in county cricket and T20 leagues, Pennington has faced personal challenges, including dyslexia. This learning difficulty has been a part of his life, but he has worked hard to overcome it. In 2021, Pennington openly discussed his experiences with dyslexia in an interview with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).
These facts highlight not only Pennington’s cricketing achievements but also the personal challenges he has overcome to reach this point in his career. As he prepares for his potential Test debut, England fans and cricket enthusiasts will be eager to see how this promising bowler performs on the international stage.
“I remember having an issue with spelling in primary school and the first half of secondary school. I had to spend a lot of extra time doing spelling and writing practice, and just going through little things like that,” he said.
“There are loads of different types of dyslexia. In my case, it’s just all about muddling things up in your brain when you’re writing something. I’m always thinking two sentences ahead when writing that first sentence,” Pennington continued.
#3 Represented England in the Under-19 World Cup in 2018
Pennington was a member of the England Under-19 squad for the 2018 World Cup. Although the team did not advance past the quarterfinals, losing to Australia, Pennington performed well, taking three wickets in the quarterfinal and six wickets in the tournament overall.
#2 Moved to Nottinghamshire from Worcestershire at the End of 2023
Pennington began his professional career with Worcestershire, making his List-A and first-class debuts in 2018. He had a standout season in 2021 with 42 wickets. At the end of 2023, he transferred to Nottinghamshire, where he has continued to impress, taking 29 wickets at an average of 23.03 in the ongoing Division 1 County Championship.
#1 Impressive First-Class Record
Pennington’s first-class career statistics are noteworthy. He has taken 169 wickets in 52 matches at an average of 27.3, including nine four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls. In List-A matches, he has claimed 31 wickets in 18 games.
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