Hameed's poor form leaves England selectors worrying

Wednesday 28th June 2017 07:25 EDT
 
 

Haseeb Hameed who scored just two runs for Lions in the second innings in the match against South Africa A has left the England selectors worrying as his rival claimants for the opener's place in the test match all scored half centuries. Hameed was out for a duck in the first innings of the match and has not scored anything substantial in first-class cricket this summer. He has also not been selected in the Lions squad for their match against the full South Africa side next week.

Hameed has to now focus on scoring runs for Lancashire at Edgbaston next week, his final chance to find some form before the Test squad is announced next weekend. England will be desperate for him to come to form so that he can open the innings against South Africans in the test match.

Hameed left India after sustaining injuries in winter with his place in the side assured and England hopeful that they had finally found a long term partner for Alastair Cook after so many false starts by others.

Mark Stoneman, his rival for the coveted opener's post continued his run of form with a second 50 of the match at Canterbury. While, Hameed was out pushing at a ball outside off stump, Stoneman enjoyed the luck of a man in form. He edged through vacant third slip on 16 and was then dropped on 20 and 33 before going on to make 86.

Another rival Keaton Jennings was caught at slip but not before making 71 to go with his 57 in the first innings and the fourth opener in the team, Nick Gubbins, hit 63 as the Lions set up their declaration. South Africa A have been outclassed in this match and for most of the players apart from Hameed this has not been much of a challenge.


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