Lancashire's Harry Singh, accompanied by teammates Charlie Barnard and Kesh Fonseka, was selected as the 12th man for England's first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in Manchester.
RP Singh Senior's son Harry Singh takes field for England
Harry, the son of former Indian cricketer RP Singh Senior, made his debut early in the match, coming on as a substitute shortly after England elected to bowl first. He returned to the field during the post-lunch session, replacing Harry Brook who had temporarily left the pitch in the 37th over. Singh's appearance marked a significant milestone for both him and his family.
Harry Singh's father, RP Singh Senior, represented India in the 1980s. A left-arm fast bowler, Singh Senior played two One-Day Internationals against Australia in 1986 and had a successful domestic career. He featured in 59 first-class matches, claiming 150 wickets and scoring 1413 runs.
His last competitive appearance came in the Duleep Trophy in 1991, representing Central Zone against North Zone. After retiring as a player, RP Singh Senior transitioned into coaching. Relocating to England in the late 1990s, he began working with Lancashire County Cricket Club and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Harry Singh's Emerging Career
Harry Singh has been steadily progressing in his cricketing career. Earlier this year, he made his List A debut for Lancashire in the One-Day Cup. In his seven matches, the 20-year-old has displayed promising skills, although his performances are still developing.
With the bat, Singh has scored 87 runs at an average of 12.42, with a strike rate of 64.44 and a top score of 25. He has also contributed with the ball, taking two wickets with his off-breaks. As Singh continues to gain experience, there is potential for him to further enhance his performances and make a significant impact in the future.
Harry Singh's England U-19 track record
Harry Singh's talent was recognized in 2022 when he was selected to represent the England U19 team during their home series against Sri Lanka. In an interview with Lancashire CC after signing a rookie contract with the club at the age of 18, Singh shared insights into his formative years of playing cricket in England.
Sri Lanka's counter-attack frustrate England on Day 1
Meanwhile, talking about the match, Sri Lanka staged a remarkable recovery in the first innings of the Test match, bouncing back from a precarious position of 6/3 to post a competitive total of 236 in Manchester. Key contributions came from Milan Rathnayake and Dhananjaya de Silva, who played counterattacking knocks to bolster Sri Lanka's innings. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva led the way with a spirited 74 off 84, while debutant Milan Ratnayake's gritty 72 off 135 added to England's woes. Despite facing an early challenge, England managed to end the day's play unscathed with 22/0 before bad light forced an early conclusion to Day 1.
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