England is the aim and to try to take each game as it comes: Haseeb Hameed

Young English opener Haseeb Hameed has become a household name in international cricket when he made his Test debut against India last year. He had an impressive start to his career as he hit a gutsy 82 in the very first game that he played against a quality Indian bowling lineup. His dream start was curtailed by a finger injury in the same series. Despite his injury, he did bat in the game in which he had injured himself.

He was subsequently replaced by Keaton Jennings in the remaining games of the tour. Post his recovery from injury, Haseeb Hameed failed to get the same nick back with the bat for his domestic side Lancashire. A string of low scores with average close to 20 beckoned for him in over 15 matches that he played since then.

He recently hit his first fifty post his recovery. The poor form cost him his place in the national side as Keaton Jennings was picked ahead of him for the recently concluded series against South Africa. Hameed seems to be unfazed though. In a conversation with BBC Radio Manchester, Haseeb noted that these experiences will make him a better batsman.

“The last few months haven’t gone the way I would have liked but that happens. It’s about learning from these experiences, not just completely forget about them, and making sure I keep developing. Sometimes you actually learn more from instances like this,” quoted Haseeb Hameed.

“Hopefully I can say in coming years that this three-month period I’ve had, where it hasn’t gone the way I wanted to, helped me become a better player and person,” he added further.

Aiming the national side

He further quoted that he is aiming the national side yet again. He is keen on taking one game at a time. Haseeb believes that if he continues to perform well for Lancashire, then the national call is bound to come again.

“England is the aim and to try to take each game as it comes – whoever is that is for, which is Lancashire right now. I will try and perform to the best of my ability for Lancashire and if I can do that then, hopefully, further honours can come again,” said Haseeb Hameed.

“If you have a difficult period, there’s lots of different things that people think is the reason why. It could be a number of reasons but I’m just looking at putting that to one side now and hopefully approach the second half of the season for myself,” concluded Hameed.