Hampshire batsman Oli Soames looks to follow Che Pujara's example

Soames facilitates his more expansive teammates' styles by patiently laying the foundations of the innings, helping the county score the most batting bonus points in the County Championship so far this season

Oli Soames has been taking notes from watching India Test star Cheteshwar Pujara in how to grind bowlers down.

Hampshire opening batsman Soames facilitates his more expansive teammates’ styles by patiently laying the foundations of the innings, helping the county score the most batting bonus points in the County Championship so far this season.

Soames, who spent his winter with Essendon Cricket Club in Melbourne, watched Pujara bore Australia with 106 from 319 balls during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

And Pujara, who lead the scoring charts with 521 runs in the four-match series, has given Soames the confidence to give Hampshire a steady start at the top of the batting order.

“I went to the Boxing Day Test on the first day and it was a slow day but that is something I appreciated," the 23-year-old said.

“I feel like a lot of people get stuck up on run rates but when I was in Australia, I saw Pujara day for two days and got India into a winning position.

^{Hampshire batsman Oli Soames}

“It takes a lot of skill when you face three quick bowlers in Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to grind them down.

“He has a lot of skill but he doesn’t have that X-factor like a Kohli or a de Villiers. I also don’t see myself as those guys but as a technically sound batsman you can bat a long time.

“I understand my game; I am not an expansive player, if the ball is in my area then I will play at it but I won’t go searching for it. I want to bat as long as possible.

“If you are tight around that off stump defensively and leave well then that is when the bowlers start to get frustrated and the runs start to come.

“In four-day cricket I don’t need to go searching for it. There is enough time. We have enough hitters down the order at Hampshire who can catch up later in the day.”

Soames and Hampshire travel to Welbeck Colliery to face Nottinghamshire on Sunday.

It will mean a reunion of Soames and England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who produced an intriguing battle during the reverse fixture on the Isle of Wight last month, which Hampshire won.

Nottinghamshire will also boast Australian quick James Pattinson in their attack, and Soames is excited to test himself against the international duo.

VISIT THE COUNTY HUB

“You have to relish facing them,” Soames, who scored a gritty 44 at Newclose, said. “If you don’t you’re not in the right career. At a young age your aspiration are to play for England, and to test yourself against those guys is an opportunity to make a name for yourself.

“You really want to get stuck in, bat long against them and prove yourself.

“Broad is a skilful bowler which we have seen at Test level, so that respect is there, but at the end of the day you have to remove the name from your head and play the next ball.

“Adi has told me ‘you are only going to carry on by facing the next ball’ and I think that has stuck with me. As soon as you start worrying about names you start to get into trouble.”

Soames has added some stability to the top of the Hampshire batting with opening partner Joe Weatherley this season, after the retirement of stalwart Jimmy Adams.

And the former Loughborough University student has enjoyed facing the new ball with an old pal. He said: “Me and Joe have batted a lot together at age groups so it has been nice to bat with a familiar face.

“We complement each other well. He is a bit more attacking and relieves that pressure. We understand each other well.

“He is more front foot dominant and I’m back foot dominant which means the bowlers have to think about it more.

“We know how to talk each other about the bowlers and that different level of communication has allowed us to bond quicker than other opening partnerships.”

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network

For more outstanding county coverage, try The Cricketer for three issues free this summer. Click here to sign up today