Hameed could make his Test debut next month
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
England have brought in the uncapped trio of Haseeb Hameed, Ben Duckett and Zafar Ansari for the upcoming Test series in Bangladesh.
Hameed, 19, began the year as a relatively unknown player, but he has made his name known through his superb County Championship campaign with Lancashire as he has scored 1154 runs at an average of 52.45.
Should he be selected to play against Bangladesh, Hameed will become only the second teenager to play Test cricket for England since 1949, with the other being Ben Hollioake. He will also be England’s youngest opener in Test history and their fifth-youngest debutant.
“Haseeb Hameed, for someone so young, has had an impressive season in the Specsavers County Championship with Lancashire,” national selector James Whitaker said. “He has been a consistent performer and his four centuries, against some of the best bowling attacks in the country are testament to his outstanding temperament and attitude.”
Duckett, who represents Northamptonshire, occupies third place on the run-scorers list in the County Championship this year as he has amassed 1338 runs at an average of 58.17.
“Ben Duckett merits his call-up to both squads after showing his qualities as an attacking batsman, both in the county game and for the England Lions,” Whitaker said.
As for Ansari, he was called up for England’s series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last October, but he fractured his thumb and was forced to withdraw from the tour.
England have also decided to select Gareth Batty in their squad even though he has not played Test cricket since June 2005.
The 38-year-old has taken 41 wickets for Surrey in the County Championship this year and will be one of four spinners in the squad, alongside Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Ansari.
“Alongside Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, we are excited about the qualities that Zafar Ansari and Gareth Batty bring to the squad,” Whitaker said. “Zafar has great potential both with bat and ball and Gareth’s experience as one of the country’s best slow bowlers and his ability to be effective in subcontinent conditions will be beneficial this winter.”
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler found a place in the Test squad for the first time since October 2015, while Mark Wood has also returned after recovering from an ankle injury.
In regards to the ODI squad, Buttler will assume the role of captain after Eoin Morgan pulled out of the tour due to security concerns, while batsman Joe Root has been rested for the limited overs portion of the series.
Despite a disappointing summer, batsman James Vince was included in the ODI squad, but lost his place in the Test side.
Test squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Zafar Ansari, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Steven Finn, Haseeb Hameed, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
ODI squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood