Hameed holds firm after tough breaks
HASEEB Hameed says he won’t be altering his batting grip despite suffering two broken fingers in less than a year.
The Lancashire opener is still recovering from surgery five weeks ago to put a metal plate into the middle digit on his right hand after breaking it while playing for Lancashire against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Last winter he had a plate inserted in a finger on his left hand after being hit on the hand in the Test series in India.
Some have suggested he is holding the bat too low, but Hameed says the blows won’t alter the way he plays.
He told M.E.N. Sport: “It is part and parcel of the game. It is probably unusual for someone my age to have had two breaks, but I won’t have any mental scarring from what has happened.
“I will just continue doing what I have been doing – but maybe have some extra protection on my gloves!
“As a batsman I am always looking at ways I can improve. I felt my technique is built around making sure I can give myself the best chance to spend as long as I can at the crease and make it difficult for bowlers to get me out.
“I will continue to do that, but if there is an opportunity for me to prevent injuries like this at the same time, then I will take that on board too.
“Shivnarine Chanderpaul told me he has broken almost all his fingers!”
Hameed’s finger is still swollen, but the doctors are happy with how he is healing and he is due to return to the nets this week to bat against tennis balls, with the aim of being ready for the England Lions’ tour to the West Indies in the New Year.
“I didn’t think it was as bad as my first break. I tried holding the bat after it happened and couldn’t, so I knew I was in trouble,” said Hameed.
“But the doctors are happy with the range of movement I have in it now.
“I can start hitting tennis balls pretty soon, then 10 days or so after that I will be able to do some bowling machine stuff with rubber balls.
“It will be about three weeks before I can play with the hard ball again.
“There then will be some communication between the selectors and the medical staff at Lancs.
“The last time I broke my finger I probably went back a bit too soon afterwards, so I want to make sure it is right, which is why I am not going with the Lions on this training camp to Australia.
“I want to get back to playing again, but the smart thing will be to wait until everything is spot on. You would rather spend a couple of days making sure everything is fine, mentally as well, rather than rushing it and hitting balls too early and risk doing it again.
“When you play at the highest level, you don’t often get opportunities to go away and develop your game, it is pretty full on. I have this chance over the next few months where I can spend time working on my game.”