I Would Have No Problem With Haseeb Hameed Replacing Dominic Sibley, States Nasser Hussain

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said that Haseeb Hameed could be a likely replacement for Dominic Sibley in England’s opening slot.

Sibley has been in the eyes of England cricket experts for the wrong reasons. His inconsistency with the bat is the talking point of England’s batting and in the first Test, the opener mustered scores of 18 and 28 despite spending much time at the crease.

Nasser Hussain wants Haseeb Hameed to replace Dominic Sibley

Hameed, who made his Test debut against India in 2016, scored 82 runs in the second innings of the Rajkot Test. He only played in three matches in that series and since then he never played for England in any format.

Hameed was included in England’s squad for the five-match Test series and he made his case strong by punching a century against India in the warm-up match in Chester-le Street.  Hussain feels Hameed could play in place of Sibley and wants England to retain Rory Burns in the team.

“If they’re keen for Hameed to play, then I would have no problem with him replacing Dom Sibley. Rory Burns was player of the series against New Zealand, so he can’t be dropped after one bad game, and if you’re picking on potential, Hameed edges Sibley,” Hussain wrote in his column for Daily Mail. 

Nasser Hussain thinks Jonny Bairstow should bat at No.3

Jonny Bairstow seemed in good touch in the Nottingham Test where he was confident in hitting the ball and got some moderate scores to overcome his bad patch with his form. He was involved in a 72-run stand with skipper Joe Root and once their partnership ended, England’s batting completely skittled to a total of 183 in the first innings. Hussain is of the opinion that Bairstow should be promoted to bat at No.3.

“Joe Root, the captain and — by a distance — best player, is unwilling to move up a place, England would be shooting themselves in the foot by risking the runs he scores at No 4. That potentially leaves Jonny Bairstow as a makeshift No 3. He’s had problems in the past against the moving red ball, but he has tightened up his technique — he now goes back and across — so he could be an option,” Nasser Hussain stated. 

England will play India in the second Test at Lord’s, London, on Thursday.

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