Haseeb Hameed, who just two years ago was seen as the great hope of English cricket after he burst onto the Test scene in India, endured a miserable 2018 summer, managing just 165 runs from 17 County Championship innings at an average of 9.70
Haseeb Hameed has endured a difficult 2018
Lancashire director of cricket Paul Allott says Haseeb Hameed's loss of form remains a "complete and utter mystery".
Hameed, who just two years ago was seen as the great hope of English cricket after he burst onto the Test scene in India, endured a miserable 2018 summer, managing just 165 runs from 17 County Championship innings at an average of 9.70.
He spent plenty of time in the Lancashire 2nd XI as well as being farmed out to play club cricket at Formby, but has failed to rediscover his mojo.
Uncertainty at the crease has led to poor shot selection or lack thereof - Hameed has been out leaving the ball on multiple occasions this term - and now the player dubbed Baby Boycott after his 82 on Test debut is causing his county headaches.
Hameed averaged 9.70 in the County Championship this season
"Haseeb Hameed is a dilemma for us," Allott said. "We’ve given him more opportunity probably than he deserved all through the summer.
"But, having said that, I’ve not seen a more talented young opening batsman in my 40 odd years in the game.
"The way he played in 2016 and then went to India and opened the batting for England, he was everybody’s choice as the next Alastair Cook. He was the right-handed Alastair Cook and his successor.
"Where his form and function have gone and disappeared to is a complete and utter mystery."
That's not to say that Lancashire are giving up on the 21-year-old.
"I’m obviously very keen to see him rejuvenate himself and find his form again," Allott said.
HASEEB HAMEED: CHAMPIONSHIP STATS 2018Matches: 10Innings: 17Runs: 165Average: 9.70HS: 31
Posted by Jeri Mac on 03/11/2018 at 00:34
What matters is not how talented a batsman looks but whether he gets runs. Hameed looks talented, Chanderpaul didn't, but he averaged over 50 in tests. It's not just Allot, Simon Hughes recently praised Pope to the skies in the Cricketer - not fair, he's just a promising young batsman who bowlers haven't had a chance to work out yet. If style mattered much Vince would be averaging 50 in tests. The movie 'Moneyball' should be compulsory watching for every commentator - pick on results not appearances.
Posted by David Rimmer on 28/09/2018 at 20:25
The figures look grisly and my heart goes out to Haseeb Hameed. I saw him once at The Oval this season. I was willing him to score runs and he looked in reasonable order at the crease. He was then dismissed by a good ball from Morne Morkel behind the wicket for a low double figure score. There is no hiding place at the top of the order where one mistake can end an innings. All kinds of things must be going on in Haseeb's head and he will be hurting, there is no doubt about that. It is horrible to have your failures pointed out but it should be remembered that the modern first class structure allows little room for manoeuvre for a player to find his form. If he is not scoring runs and there is then no further Championship game for three or four weeks {Haseeb rarely if ever figures in one day cricket for Lancashire) it is not easy. It must be also remembered that when he enjoyed his success for Lancashire and latterly England in 2016, he was not that known to opponents. After that his foibles became known to bowlers and life was not so easy for him. I hope Haseeb can resurrect his career but it will be tough.
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