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Leicestershire's star pacer Josh Hull has been included in the England squad for the remaining two Test matches against Sri Lanka. This comes after Mark Wood was ruled out of the series due to a thigh injury.
Josh Hull added to England squad after Mark Wood's departure
20-year-old Hull is considered one of the most exciting young talents in county cricket. Despite a modest first-class record with 16 wickets at an average of 62.75, his impressive height of 6ft 7in has been a significant asset. He played a crucial role in Leicestershire's victory in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup last season. Moreover, Hull recently showcased his skills on his England Lions debut, claiming five wickets in two innings at New Road. This performance helped England Lions secure a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka's touring team in their only warm-up match.
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Despite a limited wicket-taking tally of two in three Championship matches this season, Hull has demonstrated his potential for high-speed bowling. His recent debut in the Hundred tournament for Manchester Originals provided a glimpse of his pace, as he consistently reached speeds close to 90mph. This display suggests that Hull's ability to bowl quickly could be a valuable asset for the England team.
"It was about half nine last night when I got the call from Brendon McCullum. It's a very special moment," Hull told BBC Radio Leicester.
“It's come around pretty quickly, I didn't think it would happen this fast, but I am really excited to be joining them. I was happy with how I performed [for England Lions] but I never thought it would lead to a call this early. They've got Olly Stone there as the first replacement, so it will be a great opportunity to join up and be part of that environment," he added.
Hull is currently participating in Leicestershire's County Championship match against Gloucestershire in Bristol. He is scheduled to join the England squad in London on Monday, ahead of the second Test at Lord's, which starts on Thursday. The final Test of the summer will be held at the Kia Oval from September 6th to 10th. The only change to England's 13-man squad for the remaining two Tests is the inclusion of Hull. Olly Stone from Nottinghamshire is expected to fill the void left by Mark Wood's absence. This would mark Stone's fourth Test appearance and his first since the series against New Zealand at Edgbaston in June 2021. Stone has also been playing County Championship cricket for Nottinghamshire this week. Notably, both Stone and Jordan Cox, the reserve batter from Essex, were released from the England squad on the opening day of the first Test.
Mark Wood's status became uncertain after he abruptly pulled up during his 11th over of Sri Lanka's second innings on Friday evening. He was unable to continue in the match and underwent a scan on Saturday morning. The results revealed a muscle strain in his right thigh. While this is unfortunate for the short term, the diagnosis of a strain, rather than a tear, is a positive development for both Wood and England. Given their busy winter schedule, including tours of Pakistan and New Zealand, a strain is a more manageable injury.
In Wood's absence, England faced a tough challenge in the first Test. Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal fought valiantly through the morning session of the fourth day, helping their team set a challenging target of 205. Despite the difficult chase, England managed to secure a victory with five wickets remaining, thanks to an unbeaten 62 from Joe Root.
England squad for final two Tests:
Ollie Pope (capt), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Dan Lawrence, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
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