Reece Topley believes injury nightmare gives him unique perspective

Constant fitness issues means the left-armer says he can approach his England career with a degree of freedom

Reece Topley feels he can approach the pressures and rigours of international cricket in a unique way given the injuries that have previously stood in the way of his England career.

The left-armer played just the 20th game for his country in the second T20 against West Indies in Barbados, more than six years on from his debut.

Topley was the pick of the seamers, claiming 1 for 18 from his four overs while Saqib Mahmood and Chris Jordan went around the park.

While Jordan and Mahmood's final overs went for 23 and 28 respectively as the Windies sensed an unlikely victory in pursuit of 172 to win, Topley kept the damage down to just eight runs on the way to England securing a one-run win to square the Barbados series.

"I've probably had it slightly different than other people that play international cricket, in terms of the journey that I've had," Topley said. 

"I think my perspective is quite unique and last night, I just embraced all the emotion after the game and all the messages that came through.

"I embraced it all, but then I'm very good at parking it. This morning, it's a new day and it's all about recovering and focusing on the third T20 [on Wednesday, January 26]. 

"I don't really get too caught up in it. I'm lucky to be playing and I really enjoyed it at the end of the day. Almost having this second opportunity just makes me value it all a lot more."

^{Reece Topley running out Shai Hope (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

Topley completely fell out with the game after a four-year-long injury battle which included four stress fractures and a bout of surgery. Even after a run of fitness, his bad luck returned last summer in the form of a side injury which forced him to miss England's white-ball schedule.

It means the Surrey left-armer can approach his game with a degree of freedom, knowing very well the rough deal this sport can hand you.

"Even when I've been injured so much, you'd almost bite someone's hand off to play in a T20 and bowl four overs for 40-something," he said. 

"It's almost like, at least I'm out there. So then those bad days it's like, it won't be the last bad day I have. 

"It's not like I haven't got this competitive instinct, it's just that I'm very realistic about things now, and very level-headed.

"I think that has boded well for me since coming back and playing, because those pressure scenarios, I just embrace them. 

"I almost feel like it's normal to be nervous and it's exciting because it's a game on the line for your country. Who wouldn't be nervous? 

"It's almost like it's normal, and I accept it. So, I think that's the perspective that I'm pretty lucky to have stumbled upon really."