It’s been a learning curve for Hameed

LANCASHIRE batsman Haseeb Hameed has admitted that this season has been a steep learning curve for him.

Hameed lost his place in the England Test side this season as he has struggled for runs ever since.

However, he did impress in his debut series in India last winter, before being forced home with a broken hand.

Hameed’s form this season has not been worthy of a call-up, with a top score of 47 and an average of 19.45 across 12 innings for Lancashire this season, though he did raise his bat for a century in Second XI cricket recently.

Hameed, 20, said: “It’s been quite a difficult season for me so far. But I’ve had these three to four weeks away from firstteam cricket, and I’m quite keen to put the first half of the season to one side now.

“It’s a season of two halves.What’s happened has happened, and it’s important to look forward now.We’ve had a couple of second-team fixtures against Warwickshire and the MCC Young Cricketers, and I’ve also played for Formby.

“It has been nice to spend some time in the middle and play against some decent bowlers. Any kind of match practice is beneficial.You hear a lot of people say ‘it can only take one ball for a batsman to feel back in nick’.

“Hopefully I can look forward to the next six games, not dwell too much on earlier in the season and take confidence from last year. After the first six games of last year was when I really started putting my stamp on things.”

Hameed will hope to find some form in the County Championship this weekend as Lancashire travel to face surprise package Hampshire in the first of six remaining fourday games.

Hameed added: “(Leaders) Essex are in pole position, but a lot can happen in the next couple of months.We have been doing really well.

“It’s important to take each game as it comes and continue to apply the pressure on Essex. If we can keep this momentum up, we’ll be there and thereabouts at the end of the season.”