COUNTY SHOW
Haseeb hears message to hit home runs loud and clear
HASEEB HAMEED reckons Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s attacking message has been heard loud and clear with the County Championship set to catch fire this summer.
And the opener is one of a number of ambitious players keen to show that they have the power and the skills to star at the highest level.
Hameed has, of course, already had a taste of Test cricket, most recently in England’s doomed 2122 Ashes campaign Down Under when he was overwhelmed by Australia’s pace attack.
Since then though he has helped steer Notts back to Division One championship cricket and this winter produced a sparkling 145 from just 172 balls against the full England attack for the secondstring Lions in the UAE.
It was an innings that caught the eye of watching Test skipper Stokes.
“When you come up against an attack like that and score runs, naturally it is going to give you confidence,” said Hameed.
“The messaging has been so clear from Ben and Brendon, it gives everyone absolute clarity with what they need to do to play for England.
“The message was filtered down to the Lions group that I was involved in and we were encouraged to take it back to the counties and did.
“It is a fresh way of looking at batting. I knew that I wanted to put the pressure back on the bowlers and get away from the mindset of surviving.
“I know that in Australia that was the worst version of me that people saw. But I know that I’ve become a better player for that experience.”
And Hameed, 26, doesn’t need to look too far for inspiration when it comes to returning to England colours and making a success of it.
Ben Duckett was by his side when Hameed made his Test debut in 2016, but spent six years out of the side until his return in Pakistan this winter.
And the Notts duo would love to team up again in England colours under the current leadership.
Hameed added: “I love batting with him so if we could do it together for England that would be amazing.”