09 November,2016 09:04 AM IST | | Subodh Mayure
Coach Vidyadhar Paradkar, under whom the Bolton-born teenager trained on the maidans of Mumbai, says he won't be surprised if his student notches up a huge score in Rajkot Test
England's Haseeb Hameed (right) with his Mumbai coach Vidyadhar Paradkar at Cross Maidan, Churchgate last December
England's Haseeb Hameed (right) with his Mumbai coach Vidyadhar Paradkar at Cross Maidan, Churchgate last December
At 19 years, Haseeb Hameed will become England's youngest opening batsman and the second Lancashire Test opener after Michael Atherton to make his debut in the first Test against India at Rajkot today. With consistent performances coupled by his conventional batting style in the under-15, 17 and 19 tournaments for England, Hameed has been labeled as 'baby Boycott'. Hameed will also become the first teenager to play Test cricket for England since 1949 after Yorkshire's Brian Close made his Test debut against New Zealand at 18 years and 149 days.
Skipper Cook lauds Haseeb
England skipper Alastair Cook was not short of words while praising this young talent. "He (Hameed) is incredibly unflappable, looks a very good player of spin, looks like he picks length very well, uses his crease going back or forward well. He is actually superb. You would not know he is 19. He has scored runs at every level he has played. I was nowhere near the player he was (at that age). These are very exciting days for a young guy, who has impressed everyone on this trip. You wonder whether a 19-year-old will be overawed, but he has not been. He has been one of those natural scorers. He has developed quickly," Cook said during the pre-match conference in Rajkot yesterday.
The Bolton-born Hameed has a strong affiliation with India and in particular Mumbai too. This is his third visit to the sub-continent. He has visited Mumbai twice to fine -tune his batting under the watchful eyes of coach Vidyadhar Paradkar. The results speak for itself - four centuries and nine fiftires in 20 first-class matches. Paradkar said his student is ready for the big challenge today.
"Though he is young, I think he has prepared well to give his Test exam because he is mentally a very strong cricketer. "Knowing his mindset I don't think there will be any pressure on his shoulders while making his debut. He is ready to face the Indian pacers as well as the spinners. He needs to be more cautious in the first five overs and then start carefully. Later on, when he is able to see the ball clearly, it will not be a problem for him to play his natural strokes," Paradkar told mid-day yesterday. Paradkar, who groomed Hameed on Mumbai's famous Cross Maidan earlier, was impressed with this 'rare' batting quality.
All over Fashion Street
"He is an attacking batsman with very good footwork and plays really well on the back foot too. "With a fine balance he is equally a good batsman against pacers and spinners. And he has a rare ability to play two-three different shots off the same delivery, which is amazing," he added. "I still remember how he smashed the ball over Fashion Street while practising in the nets at Cross Maidan a year ago. He knows the conditions and nature of pitches here very well. I wouldn't be surprised if he plays a big innings," Paradkar said.
