Haseeb Hameed says he can fit into England’s attacking Test cricket style under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum | Cricket News

Haseeb Hameed feels he can match the attacking style of Test cricket that England play in Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

The opening batter’s strike rate in 10 Tests so far is 32.02 and his defensive approach previously earned him the nickname ‘Boycott Baby’ in defiance of former England player Sir Geoffrey Boycott.

However, Hameed’s strike rate for Nottinghamshire in last season’s County Championship was 62.40 and he says scoring faster has been a focus since being dropped by England after a 4-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia in 2021-22.

The 26-year-old, who will captain the England Red Lions in Sri Lanka next month, said: “I came back from that Australian tour and it was clear how I was going to play: go for the score. at every opportunity and accept the fact that everyone exit.

“We [England] go into our shell a bit. We get a bit defensive, a bit ‘survival mode’ and as a result we all suffer.

“Now it’s almost like, if you doubt you take another option, you try and put pressure on it again. You take a positive option and you will be supported.

Hameed: I have shown a new side of me

“It’s a major change in the cricket system in general. What’s interesting to me is that it coincides with the same change that I’m making at the same time.

“You have a typical test match opener, which is what I like to do as before, but there is also a side of me – which some people might see now – that likes to hold the ball.

“Especially against some of the best bowlers in the world, you’re going to face good balls that will get you out, so the other balls you might try to cash in on, score runs and put the opposition under pressure.

“That’s what I wanted. I took that season with Notts and it was a good season for me.

“The way I see things, I have one bad tour but many very good players have one bad tour. Why can’t I be better? It has happened, but it’s not a complete journey. I’m not 35, 36.

“I have another 15 years of cricket left. I’m looking forward to a long time playing international cricket for England, which has never changed.”

England have won nine of the 10 Tests since Stokes replaced Joe Root as captain and Hameed said he will look to be at his peak following the lead of the senior skipper as he leads his country into their second series in Sri Lanka.

The former Lancashire batsman added: “I’ve always had my own style, but the brand that Stokesy and Co do is the English brand now, whether you’re with the Lions or the Test side.

“This is the whole idea of ​​playing to win and being prepared to lose games in order to win, 100 percent I will try to imitate.”

British Lion Tour in Sri Lanka

• Three-day warm-up vs SLC Board XI (January 25-27)
• Sri Lanka A’s first four-day Test (January 31-February 3)
• Sri Lanka A’s first four-day Test (February 7-10)
• First ODI vs Sri Lanka A (February 15)
• Second ODI vs Sri Lanka A (February 18)
• Third ODI vs Sri Lanka A (February 21)

England Lions Test Squad

Haseeb Hameed (capt), Tom Abell, Josh Bohannon, Jack Carson, Sam Cook, Matt Fisher, Nathan Gilchrist, Tom Haines, Tom Hartley, Jack Haynes, Lyndon James, Alex Lees, Liam Patterson-White, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Basa

England Lions ODI squad

Tom Abell (capt), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Matt Critchley, Matt Fisher, Sam Hain, Tom Hartley, Tom Lammonby, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Prest, James Rew, Luke Wood