TSS’s Hain has chance with Poms

FORMER The Southport School cricket prodigy Sam Hain has scored his big break with a call-up into the England Lions squad.

The talented batsman will head to the Caribbean island of Antigua to join the Lions – effectively England’s second XI – for the one-day leg of the tour against West Indies A.

Hain represented Australia at under-19 level but has long dreamt of playing for the Poms and has banged down the door to that end in his young career at Warwickshire.

The 22-year-old already has seven first-class centuries but has particularly excelled in the short forms, averaging 55.52 in 50-over cricket and 33.16 in Twenty20.

He described his selection, as an injury replacement for Dan Lawrence, as a surprise.

“It is going to be my first interaction with the England Lions … it’s nice to get recognised I guess,” Hain said.

It’s already been a stellar English winter for Hain. He was part of the Rangpur Riders squad in the Bangladesh Premier League and won selection for a pair of English pre-season opportunities – the North v South Series and the MCC v Essex match – next month in Barbados.

Hain was TSS a teammate with Aussie quick Billy Stanlake.