From Hameed to Malan, a look at the last five batsmen to debut for England in Tests

Ajit Vijaykumar 16:21 08/08/2018
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  • Haseeb Hameed (l) and Dawid Malan.

    England will hand 20-year-old Surrey batsman Ollie Pope his Test debut against India at Lord’s on Thursday.

    The batsman has an impressive first-class record with 1,012 runs in 15 matches since his debut last year.

    With Dawid Malan dropped from the team after a string of low scores and multiple dropped chances in the slip cordon at Birmingham, Pope will become the 687th player for England in Tests.

    But what about the last five batsmen who were handed Tests caps by England. We take a look at what they did.

    MARK STONEMAN

    Tests: 11, Runs: 526, Avg: 27.68, 50s: 5

    England v Pakistan: NatWest 1st Test - Day One

    Before Pope, Stoneman was the last batsman to win a Test cap for England. He opened the innings with Alastair Cook against the West Indies in Birmingham in 2017. He made just eight in his first outing as Cook smashed a double ton. He didn’t get a chance to bat again in the game as England won by an innings. He was decent without being impressive in the Ashes Down Under last season as he made two fifties in five Tests. Now 31, has been pushed out of the side with England going for the younger Keaton Jennings.

    TOM WESTLEY

    Tests: 5, Runs: 193, Avg: 24.12, 50s: 1

    The Essex batsman played his first Test against South Africa at The Oval last year. Batting at one down, Westley scored a fifty in the second innings. But that would be the only half-century of his Test career. Thereafter, the Essex batsman registered five successive single digits scores at home – which included matches against the West Indies – resulting in an abrupt end to the 29-year-old’s Test career.

    DAWID MALAN

    Tests: 15, Runs: 724, Avg: 27.84, 100s: 1, 50s: 6

    One of the more promising batsmen to emerge in England, especially in the temperament department. The 30-year-old Middlesex batter started off well in the middle-order, with his best effort of 140 in the Ashes in Perth in December expected to take him through this season. However, a startling dip in form – which included just one fifty in his last 10 innings – plus dropped chances in the Birmingham Test saw the left-hander omitted from the team for the Lord’s Test.

    KEATON JENNINGS

    Tests: 8, Runs: 373, Avg: 24.86, 100s: 1, 50s:  1

    CRICKET-ENG-IND

    The 26-year-old started off with a bang – scoring a century against India in Mumbai. However, he didn’t play in the Ashes Down Under after struggling against the Proteas last year. Following a fifty against India in Chennai in 2016, hasn’t scored a single half-century. Back in the mix as Cook’s opener, scored 42 crucial runs in the first innings in Birmingham against India.

    HASEEB HAMEED

    Tests: 3, Runs: 219, Avg: 43.80, 50s: 2

    A heartbreaking story. It seemed England had found a long-term Test opener in the now 21-year-old. He showed exemplary courage and application as he was dismissed for a single digit score just once in three Tests  against the Indians in 2016 before a finger injury paved the way for Jennings’ debut. However, as he recovered away from the Test team, his domestic form dropped like a stone. Technical flaws have reportedly seeped into his game. However, the Lancashire batsman has time on his side.

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