The Analysis: George Garton proves a point

NICK HOWSON AT THE KIA OVAL: Starring in the Blast, called up by England, testing positive for Covid-19, a month without a match and now targetting two domestic trophies. The left-arm quick is finally having a summer he deserves

"It’s very rare that we will put somebody in for a one-off game," said Eoin Morgan. "It doesn’t hold a lot of context. When you identify talent to come into a squad, I believe you should always invest in that talent and think long-term.

"For years I’ve watched guys come in and out and been given one-off games and whether it’s opportunity or form that has not given them many after that it’s not a way that you want to treat a good asset or an asset for the future."

It didn't really make sense at the time, and it certainly doesn't now. Granted, the England captain cannot have predicted how exactly the summer would unfold for George Garton but even the stubborn Irishman might accept he didn't get this call correct.

The 24-year-old has endured the most undulating of summers. At one point the top domestic T20 bowler in the country and rewarded with an England call-up, he contracted coronavirus, continued to suffer from symptoms and went a month in the middle of the summer without bowling a single ball in anger.

At one stage an outsider for a T20 World Cup call-up, his hopes are probably over. But The Hundred has offered his season new impetus and a reminder of his utter brilliance against high calibre opponents. The One-Day Cup may not have done. Don't shoot the messenger.

It is easy to forget, it was two months ago after all, that Garton had eight wickets in his first four Blast games for Sussex Sharks, leading to his first senior England call-up for the Sri Lanka ODIs. But the nature of the system and Morgan's unwillingness to experiment meant the left-armer went from carrying the Sussex attack to carrying drinks.

There is something fundamentally wrong about withdrawing a player on a fine run of form when you have no intention of playing them, to have a net and enjoyed some team bonding. When the Covid era has fully eased, this needs looking at.

Garton testing positive for coronavirus and suffering from symptoms cannot be blamed on anyone. But having had his season blocked by England, this was another bump in the road.

It was more than four weeks before we saw Garton again in Southern Brave's opening men's Hundred match against Trent Rockets. And that comeback only lasted one game before post-viral fatigue symptoms saw him miss the game with Welsh Fire.

^{Garton stared for Sussex in the Blast before being called up by England}

Taking nothing away from Garton, but the absence of Jofra Archer helped his cause and ensured that when available he has been an ever-present. The Brighton-native came signed off in the group stage with a fine display against Oval Invincibles, taking 2 for 22 with the ball and crashing 23 from 17 balls with the bat.

The elevated stage of the Eliminator produced an uplifting performance. Garton was at his canny best, dismissing the Rockets top three to turn what should have been a competitive shoot-out for the final into a one-sided contest.

Garton claimed two wickets in his second set. He started by unseating Dawid Malan, who was cramped for room and feathered one through to the wicketkeeper. Good practice ahead of a possible return to the Test team.

He then took pace off and Alex Hales only caught the edge with a huge waft. And when Garton bowled into the pitch it sat up at D'Arcy Short who could only direct a leading edge to Tymal Mills.

An international calibre top three all gone all thanks to pace and skill. As Morgan considers replacements for Archer - Mills is the frontrunner - Garton should at least be part of the conversation.

"A very up and down summer," he said. "Some really high moments like being picked for my first England call-up and then having to go home because of Covid and isolate for 14 days was not great. It was a pretty down time for me. 

^{Garton was left kicking his heels during the Sri Lanka series}

"Then coming straight to this basically still having the effects of Covid, I missed the second game because of it, so trying to recover from that and hit the ground running and try and rely on a bit of luck and natural ability and that seems to be coming good."

Morgan must now accept that despite his explanation over wanting to make players part of the culture before throwing them into the line of fire, he was wrong to overlook Garton when Sri Lanka were sitting ducks. That third ODI at Bristol was the washout, but that isn't the point.

Following a troubling summer, Garton could suddenly finish the campaign with two domestic trophies. Birmingham Phoenix stand in the way of the Brave at Lord's (the women could make it a clean sweep if they see off the Invincibles). And the Sharks are a quarter-final against Yorkshire Vikings next week (Tuesday, August 24) away from T20 Finals Day when another piece of silverware could follow. Garton, Mills and Chris Jordan will be key to both.

It is the kind of silver lining Garton's year deserves.