30 November,2016 08:35 AM IST | | Subodh Mayure
Injured England opener Haseeb Hameed's Mumbai coach Vidyadhar Paradkar rues his absence in fourth Test to be played at the Wankhede Stadium from December 8
IND vs ENG: Haseeb Hameed would have got a century at Wankhede, says Mumbai coach
England batsman Haseeb Hameed plays a shot on the fourth day of the third Test against India at Mohali. Pic/ AFP
England batsman Haseeb Hameed was keen to play a Test in Mumbai and his family too had chalked out a plan to witness the 19-year-old play against India at the Wankhede Stadium -- the venue for the fourth Test of the ongoing five-match series on December 8. However, as the news broke that Haseeb had to fly back to England to undergo a surgery on his injured hand, his family had to change their plans.
It was last year only when Hameed visited the city to fine-tune his batting skills under the watchful eyes of coach Vidyadhar Paradkar.
Hardworking Hameed
He worked on his batting and played a few practice matches at Cross Maidan. "It's really unfortunate that Haseeb won't play at Wankhede due to injury. He is playing with great temperament and I was confident that he would surely score his first Test century here," Paradkar told mid-day yesterday.
"But it's just bad luck to him and his family as they had already booked rooms in a hotel near the stadium to enjoy the Mumbai Test," Paradkar added. "I hardly go to the stadium to watch a match. But this time, I had planned to go to see how Haseeb performed against India on the Wankhede track. Now I'll stay at home and watch it on television," Haseeb's Mumbai coach added.
Bayliss impressed too
Meanwhile, England coach Trevor Bayliss wore a look of admiration as he explained both Hameed and his father, in India with the rest of the family to watch him, are still reluctant to retreat.
"He wants to stay and play the last two Tests. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He wants to stay, and his old man said âJust tape it up - he'll be alright.' Not only can he play, but it's great to see an attitude like that," he said.
Hameed, initially hurt in the second Test in Vizag before being hit again on the same spot on day one here, worked out in a series of net sessions how to bat without using the finger on his top hand. "There's plenty of other guys who have got hit and make a big song and dance about it," said Bayliss.
