Atherton's article in today's Times on Haseeb Hameed:
Haseeb Hameed was too good not to come again. You cannot play with such skill and composure in a Test match as a teenager, as Hameed did in India nearly five years ago, and not come again. As my old England captain, Graham Gooch, was always so fond of saying: you don’t lose your ability but sometimes you lose faith in it.
Amid the somewhat chaotic news of England’s selection travails — Ben Foakes’s unfortunate slip on the dressing room floor means his long-awaited debut at home has been put, literally, on ice — by far the best news was Hameed’s call-up again. Who could not be overjoyed for a young man, 24 years old now, who has known the very heights and depths that sport has to offer in such a short space of time?
He is unlikely to play. James Bracey will keep wicket and Hameed is there as cover for a top-order injury. Even then, in the event of, say, Dom Sibley suffering a recurrence of his finger injury, Bracey could move up the order and Sam Billings take the gloves. Nevertheless, Hameed knows now he is in the selectors’ thoughts again and he stands fifth in line for a permanent top-three slot behind Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Sibley and Bracey.
For a man released by his home county, Lancashire, two years ago, that is a significant advance. His form, too, is unrecognisable from the nadir of 2018, when he averaged 9.44 in 18 innings. This year, there have been two hundreds, both in the same game, and two more fifties, and he averages a tick over 50, showing the kind of productivity that encouraged the England selectors to take a chance on a teenager in the first place.
What has changed? The move away to Nottinghamshire has clearly helped. Sometimes, through no fault of club or player, a change of scenery is necessary. Hameed’s bad luck with finger injuries — three separate surgeries required — and his loss of form led to three poor summers in succession at Lancashire. The club never lost faith but they did lose patience, and the move suited both parties since it allowed Hameed space to grow and breathe through his new-found independence.
Hameed is not happier than when in the nets hitting balls and that work ethic chimes perfectly with the outlook of Nottinghamshire’s coach, Peter Moores, the most enthusiastic of cricket men. And after some thin times, Nottinghamshire appear as though they may be in the midst of a revival, through some young, talented and ambitious imported batsmen, such as Joe Clarke and Ben Duckett, alongside Hameed.
Gradually, some glimpses of form returned in his first year at Trent Bridge during the truncated summer of 2020, and with that came a little freedom in his play again. Year after struggling year at Lancashire had resulted in a player constantly tinkering with his method to find the magic again, to the point where he had almost forgotten what felt natural and instinctive. He had become hell-bent on survival, rather than thinking about scoring runs and, consequently, the flow and rhythm so apparent in India in 2016 had disappeared.
He has also made a beneficial technical change. Like so many top-order players in county cricket right now, worried as they are about the movement of the Dukes balls and soft, seamer-friendly wickets, Hameed had moved his guard towards off stump, with the counterproductive consequence that he was forced to play around his front pad and hip, thus coming across the line of the ball. Having moved his guard slightly back towards middle stump again — to a more orthodox stance, in other words — he has found he can play beside the line of the ball again and his bat has a clear path to it.
It is an older, wiser Hameed who will join up with England after Nottinghamshire’s Championship match against Warwickshire. He looks different, too, with long hair and a pony tail, and he carries new-found responsibility as vice-captain of his club. But that boyish enthusiasm for batting has not been lost: a new club, a fresh start and runs flowing, he is enjoying his cricket again. You don’t lose your ability, but the game is a beast and it can force you to lose faith in it. It is good to see him back.
I guess, but then that average is from what, 4 matches?
3 Test matches and 6 innings 6 County Championship matches and 10 innings this season
Hameed was 19 when he made his Test debut. His selection was more on the back of what coaches saw rather than what he had achieved during his career. Similarly the likes of Gower and Vaughan had bang ordinary stats in the County Championship but proved that they could step up in the Test arena. And Zac Crawley has a First Class average of 32.54 but was picked for the same reasons albeit from a very promising start he has struggled of late for England. Why shouldn't Hameed be given another go if the top 3 go through a bad patch?
Don't get me wrong, im happy for him and hope he does well, I'm just worried that if it's too early, it could set him back again.
Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame.
Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does.
Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
The biggest single factor, for me, in Haseeb Hameed's re-emergence is that move from Lancs to Notts. Seeing the same faces day in day out, hearing the same coaches and going through the same vicious circle of failure. You get labelled too and you know that there is absolutely nothing you can do to break that perception unless you start to perform again. But you can't because there is even more pressure on you to do so. And so the cycle continues because you are paralysed by that prospect of more failure.
There are plenty of examples in other sports too. Look at what going to West Ham has done for the career of Jesse Lingard. He hadn't played a single minute in the Premier League this season at United. He was totally written off. Having gone out on loan he had something to prove and with a club and manager who believed he could. He did so with 9 goals in 16 appearances and as a result is now in the provisional England squad for the Euros.
But back to cricket. If you want an example of what a move can do then take a look at the career of Darren Stevens. At Leicester he hardly bowled a ball. The perception was that he was a batsman who came on if the team had run out of options. He moved to Kent and with a clean canvas he was allowed to show what he could do in a different role. The rest is history as they say.
Moving can give you that sense of freedom and the time and space to clear that head from the negativity that an environment of failure constantly re-creates.
So 18,000 will be allowed into Edgbaston for the New Zealand test. I have 2 tickets from the capacity of 26,000 so good chance I will get to go. Excited as being back to almost normal, but is a little scary thought as well. Having hardly been around anyone for 14 months and now close to 18,000!
Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame.
Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does.
Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
Billings is a fine outfielder, but it's always puzzled me that when he plays in the England white ball sides, it's always as a specialised batsman, with Buttler or Bairstow with the gloves, when he's the best keeper out of them.
It's also a bit puzzling that Bairstow and Buttler were left out because they've just come back from India, as Billings has been out there too!
Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame.
Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does.
Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
Billings is a fine outfielder, but it's always puzzled me that when he plays in the England white ball sides, it's always as a specialised batsman, with Buttler or Bairstow with the gloves, when he's the best keeper out of them.
It's also a bit puzzling that Bairstow and Buttler were left out because they've just come back from India, as Billings has been out there too!
I agree that Billings is better than Buttler and Bairstow behind the stumps. I guess their reasoning is thay they don't see Billings getting in the limited overs side as a keeper batsman but they want to see if he can be used as a backup finisher. If he did get a slot in the side long term then that would be a question worth asking.
Did Billings not come back from India before others? I believe he played for Kent in the last match? The Currans and Roy came back with Buttler and Bairstow and the ECB aren't even allowing them to play for Surrey today avenue though they have been out of quarantine for over a week now. Which is a bit of a blow given we have lost Burns Foakes and Pope (and Roach) this week.
Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame.
Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does.
Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
Billings is a fine outfielder, but it's always puzzled me that when he plays in the England white ball sides, it's always as a specialised batsman, with Buttler or Bairstow with the gloves, when he's the best keeper out of them.
It's also a bit puzzling that Bairstow and Buttler were left out because they've just come back from India, as Billings has been out there too!
billings is lightening quick accross the outfield - so is bairstow, buttler isn't. For that reason i think that's why buttler is behind the stumps, as bairstow and billings can patrol the ropes.
I’m off to Lords tomorrow - sitting in Upper Mound Stand - must not forget my hat and suntan lotion - hamper ordered - cant wait
Enjoy!
For once the weather has played ball. It was all set up that the first international in he UK with crowds watching since 2019 would be drowned out by rain
Originally had tickets for day 1 and 4 when they first went on sale but got refunded months ago due to covid restrictions. Today we managed to get 2 for Saturday just a few seats away from where we’re originally got them. Just hope it lasts till Saturday. At least it’ll allow yesterday’s sunburn to fade a bit.
This seems a good moment to mention that at this time last week I found myself bowling in tandem with Ollie Robinson's dad (for the Forty Club). Not quite as quick or slim, which is understandable, and bowls with the other arm. Nice guy and super excited, in his understated way, at being invited to Lord's to see his son's Test debut.
This seems a good moment to mention that at this time last week I found myself bowling in tandem with Ollie Robinson's dad (for the Forty Club). Not quite as quick or slim, which is understandable, and bowls with the other arm. Nice guy and super excited, in his understated way, at being invited to Lord's to see his son's Test debut.
Great for him that crowds are allowed in, and he can see his son's debut live.
I was trying to find stats of bowlers who had taken the wickets of the most different batsmen. Only found batsman dismissed the most by the same bowler. Three of the top four were Mike Atherton, out to McGrath (19 times!) Ambrose and Walsh. Did he just play against Australia and West Indies? Fair enough we are talking about three of the most prolific ever fast bowlers
I was trying to find stats of bowlers who had taken the wickets of the most different batsmen. Only found batsman dismissed the most by the same bowler. Three of the top four were Mike Atherton, out to McGrath (19 times!) Ambrose and Walsh. Did he just play against Australia and West Indies? Fair enough we are talking about three of the most prolific ever fast bowlers
from memory atherton would either get out fairly early or not at all.
Comments
Haseeb Hameed was too good not to come again. You cannot play with such skill and composure in a Test match as a teenager, as Hameed did in India nearly five years ago, and not come again. As my old England captain, Graham Gooch, was always so fond of saying: you don’t lose your ability but sometimes you lose faith in it.
Amid the somewhat chaotic news of England’s selection travails — Ben Foakes’s unfortunate slip on the dressing room floor means his long-awaited debut at home has been put, literally, on ice — by far the best news was Hameed’s call-up again. Who could not be overjoyed for a young man, 24 years old now, who has known the very heights and depths that sport has to offer in such a short space of time?
He is unlikely to play. James Bracey will keep wicket and Hameed is there as cover for a top-order injury. Even then, in the event of, say, Dom Sibley suffering a recurrence of his finger injury, Bracey could move up the order and Sam Billings take the gloves. Nevertheless, Hameed knows now he is in the selectors’ thoughts again and he stands fifth in line for a permanent top-three slot behind Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Sibley and Bracey.
For a man released by his home county, Lancashire, two years ago, that is a significant advance. His form, too, is unrecognisable from the nadir of 2018, when he averaged 9.44 in 18 innings. This year, there have been two hundreds, both in the same game, and two more fifties, and he averages a tick over 50, showing the kind of productivity that encouraged the England selectors to take a chance on a teenager in the first place.
What has changed? The move away to Nottinghamshire has clearly helped. Sometimes, through no fault of club or player, a change of scenery is necessary. Hameed’s bad luck with finger injuries — three separate surgeries required — and his loss of form led to three poor summers in succession at Lancashire. The club never lost faith but they did lose patience, and the move suited both parties since it allowed Hameed space to grow and breathe through his new-found independence.
Hameed is not happier than when in the nets hitting balls and that work ethic chimes perfectly with the outlook of Nottinghamshire’s coach, Peter Moores, the most enthusiastic of cricket men. And after some thin times, Nottinghamshire appear as though they may be in the midst of a revival, through some young, talented and ambitious imported batsmen, such as Joe Clarke and Ben Duckett, alongside Hameed.
Gradually, some glimpses of form returned in his first year at Trent Bridge during the truncated summer of 2020, and with that came a little freedom in his play again. Year after struggling year at Lancashire had resulted in a player constantly tinkering with his method to find the magic again, to the point where he had almost forgotten what felt natural and instinctive. He had become hell-bent on survival, rather than thinking about scoring runs and, consequently, the flow and rhythm so apparent in India in 2016 had disappeared.
He has also made a beneficial technical change. Like so many top-order players in county cricket right now, worried as they are about the movement of the Dukes balls and soft, seamer-friendly wickets, Hameed had moved his guard towards off stump, with the counterproductive consequence that he was forced to play around his front pad and hip, thus coming across the line of the ball. Having moved his guard slightly back towards middle stump again — to a more orthodox stance, in other words — he has found he can play beside the line of the ball again and his bat has a clear path to it.
It is an older, wiser Hameed who will join up with England after Nottinghamshire’s Championship match against Warwickshire. He looks different, too, with long hair and a pony tail, and he carries new-found responsibility as vice-captain of his club. But that boyish enthusiasm for batting has not been lost: a new club, a fresh start and runs flowing, he is enjoying his cricket again. You don’t lose your ability, but the game is a beast and it can force you to lose faith in it. It is good to see him back.
Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does.
Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
There are plenty of examples in other sports too. Look at what going to West Ham has done for the career of Jesse Lingard. He hadn't played a single minute in the Premier League this season at United. He was totally written off. Having gone out on loan he had something to prove and with a club and manager who believed he could. He did so with 9 goals in 16 appearances and as a result is now in the provisional England squad for the Euros.
But back to cricket. If you want an example of what a move can do then take a look at the career of Darren Stevens. At Leicester he hardly bowled a ball. The perception was that he was a batsman who came on if the team had run out of options. He moved to Kent and with a clean canvas he was allowed to show what he could do in a different role. The rest is history as they say.
Moving can give you that sense of freedom and the time and space to clear that head from the negativity that an environment of failure constantly re-creates.
It's also a bit puzzling that Bairstow and Buttler were left out because they've just come back from India, as Billings has been out there too!
Did Billings not come back from India before others? I believe he played for Kent in the last match? The Currans and Roy came back with Buttler and Bairstow and the ECB aren't even allowing them to play for Surrey today avenue though they have been out of quarantine for over a week now. Which is a bit of a blow given we have lost Burns Foakes and Pope (and Roach) this week.
For once the weather has played ball. It was all set up that the first international in he UK with crowds watching since 2019 would be drowned out by rain
scared of all day boozing and meeting alcoholic mates for brekkie at 8.30
Very jealous!!
114-3
This seems a good moment to mention that at this time last week I found myself bowling in tandem with Ollie Robinson's dad (for the Forty Club). Not quite as quick or slim, which is understandable, and bowls with the other arm. Nice guy and super excited, in his understated way, at being invited to Lord's to see his son's Test debut.