The 19-year-old opener compiled an unbeaten half-century on debut but it was the manner in which he did it that suggested Cook’s latest opening partner might be here to stay
Alastair Cook described Haseeb Hameed as unflappable when announcing the 19-year-old’s Test debut would come in Rajkot but it is pretty safe to assume he did not envisage his new opening partner to be the type that launches straight sixes early on in potentially perilous situations.
But just six overs into England’s second innings on the fourth day, with a session to negotiate and a lead of 49 to bolster, the right-hander decided the aerial route represented a viable response to the left-arm spin of Ravi Jadeja and duly danced down the pitch to strike the ball cleanly down the ground for what was just the second time he has cleared the rope in his first-class career.
Related: Haseeb Hameed’s maiden half-century puts England in charge against India
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