Haseeb Hameed, who will captain in January and February for England Lions red-ball team in Sri Lanka, got his County Championship runs for Nottinghamshire in 2022 at a strike rate of 62.40, nearly double his Test strike rate of 32.02. He says he will risk failure to fight for victories.

 

The opening hitter has a strike rate of 32.02 in his 10 Test matches thus far, and because of his defensive batting style in the past, he was given the moniker “Baby Boycott” in honor of former England hitter Sir Geoffrey Boycott.

 

Nevertheless, Hameed’s strike rate for Nottinghamshire in the Champions Cup last year was 62.40, and he claims that since being sidelined by England during the 4-0 Ashes thumping in Australia in 2021–2022, scoring more quickly has been his objective.

 

The 26-year-old, who will lead the red-ball squad representing the England Lions in Sri Lanka later this month, said: 

 

“After that tour of Australia, I knew exactly how I wanted to play the game: I would aim to score runs whenever possible and accept the reality that everyone would get out.

 

“We [England] retreated a little bit. We all suffered due to our tendency to go into “survival mode” and become defensive.

 

“Now it’s almost like you choose the good option, and you’ll be supported; if, in question, you take the opposite choice and attempt to put the pressure back on them.

 

“I have showcased a new side of me,” claimed Hameed.

 

“The intriguing thing for me is that it coincides with a comparable move that I made simultaneously, which is a fundamental change in our cricket system.

 

“You have your usual Test match opener, which is how I was trying to play previously, but there is also a part of me that relishes smashing the ball, which perhaps a few more people have seen recently.

 

“You’re going to encounter good balls that will get you out, especially when playing against some of the best bowlers in the world. With the remaining balls, you might attempt to capitalize, score runs, and put the opposition under pressure.

 

“I carried that into the campaign with Notts, and it was an excellent season for me, so that’s what I’ve tried to do.

 

“I had one poor tour, but many talented players have also had poor tours. Why am I unable to improve? Although everything has already occurred, the road is not over. I’m not 35 or 36.

 

I still have 15 years remaining to play cricket, and my goal has always been to play for England internationally for most of those years.