England must come to terms with India's unassailable 2-0 series lead after their defeat in Mohali and the loss for the rest of the campaign of a young player who appears born to be a Test opener
India's Virat Kohli has words of wisdom for England's Haseeb Hameed after the Mohali Test yesterday. Pic/BCCI's Twitter handle
India's Virat Kohli has words of wisdom for England's Haseeb Hameed after the Mohali Test yesterday. Pic/BCCI's Twitter handle
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Mohali: England must come to terms with India's unassailable 2-0 series lead after their defeat in Mohali and the loss for the rest of the campaign of a young player who appears born to be a Test opener.
Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss have little to smile about and Haseeb Hameed's impending flight home to have a plate inserted in his badly-broken left little finger was a further blow.
Yet as England consider over the next 24 hours who to call up in the 19-year-old's place in time for the fourth Test in Mumbai, at least captain and coach know for sure after Hameed's 59 not out that he is their man for the future at the top of the order.
The injured Lancastrian had to bat out of position at number eight in the second innings, yet still — in stands with Joe Root (78) and Chris Woakes — refused to accept England were done after conceding a first-innings lead of 134.
Cook reflected on a lost opportunity and Hameed's misfortune. "It's obviously desperately unlucky for a young player who's impressed us all with his technique, his talent and now his bravery and determination that when he's playing for England he'll do anything to get out there.
"I thought the way he played today was a very special knock. If you needed anyone to prove how tough a youngster he is, that does."
Bayliss saw enough to conclude too that Hameed has shown many attributes to which England teammates should aspire. "I think there are a lot of guys in there in awe of what he's been through," he said. England's management have had to persuade Hameed that he must leave for his operation.
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