Discarded Joyce wants another crack at the Aussies

London, July 26 (ANI): Discarded by the England set up more than two years ago, Irish-born Ed Joyce, who now plays for Sussex, is one of a select group of England batsmen to have scored a century against the Australians.

And now, he is keen to resurrect his international career by taking another crack at the Kangaroos.

Joyce, 30, is in the provisional 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy in South Africa and is desperate to make the 15-man party.

According to The Sun, he is the leading scorer in this year's Friends Provident Trophy having hit three centuries and another dazzling innings in today's final for Sussex Sharks against Hampshire Hawks will seal his case more loudly.

It will also continue to vindicate his decision to leave Middlesex in the winter after 10 years and move to the South Coast.

Joyce's hundred against the Aussies came in a one-dayer in Sydney in 2007 and brought temporary relief on a miserable tour.

He recalls: "It was an amazing day, the first time we had beaten Australia on that trip.

"It was a nightmare tour before that. Duncan Fletcher was coming towards the end of his tenure and Michael Vaughan was injured. Freddie was having a difficult time as captain.

"So to make a hundred and be man of the match on the day we finally beat Australia was very special.

"I will always remember it - but it would be nice to get another opportunity."

Within three months of his magnificent innings, Joyce was discarded from the one-day side after a disappointing World Cup in the Caribbean and has not played since.

"The whole point of playing county cricket is to play for England," he says, adding that was one of the reasons for moving to Sussex.

"If you are wining trophies and scoring runs, it will help keep you in the spotlight. If you want to play international cricket, it helps having people writing and talking about you," Joyce said. (ANI)