By Paul Edwards
Four tranquil centuries, three Test matches, two broken fingers and all belonging to one batsman who scored 1,198 Championship runs in his first full season yet managed less than half that tally in his second.
Given that medley of facts, it is certainly wise to remember Haseeb Hameed is only 21 years old, especially so when one considers given the weight of expectation still resting on those slight shoulders.
Viewed in that context, it was perhaps fortunate the Lancashire opener sustained the second of his fractures near the end of last season, at a time when his chance of being selected for the Ashes tour had surely gone.
The recovery and recuperation which followed gave him an opportunity to reflect on a couple of remarkable seasons. More importantly, perhaps, it gave Hameed a chance to work on his game with his father, Ismail, the coach who understands his son’s cricket best of all.
“I’ve had the most success when I’ve worked with my dad,” said Hameed. “I experienced the highs of 2016 and the lows of last year and then I was able to look at what I could have done differently.
“But I’ve found that when I’ve worked with my dad, my game has been in better shape.
“You need that one person and it’s a close and important relationship for me. You can’t take information from everyone, even though people have the best intentions when they offer you advice.”
Rather than the nets at Farnworth Social Circle CC, a place which may acquire its own place in the mythology of Lancashire cricket, the Hameeds worked on their autumnal quest for cricketing excellence at Emirates Old Trafford. But it was very clear to both men that a wholesale remodelling of one of the most compact techniques in the English game was not required.
“I have to strike a balance between developing my game and sticking close to what I am good at,” said Hameed. “I don’t think it’s often the case that you have to change everything. I worked on things and had feedback from my dad.
“When you have seven weeks recovering from an injury you have plenty of time to think about things.
“I had time to think about what I wanted to work on and I took that opportunity after my injury to make improvements. I’ve been able to show some of that already and I hope to be able to show more of it during the summer.”
Indeed, if Hameed’s tour with the England Lions and his pre-season matches with Lancashire have not produced the glut of runs he often demands of himself, they have at least offered signs he is rediscovering the composure which was his hallmark until a run of low scores blighted his progress in the early months of last season’s Championship.
“I’ve had a winter of two halves really,” he said. “First I recovered from the injury, but then it was nice to get back into competitive mode with the Lions followed by a good pre-season with Lancashire. I’ve scored runs in both red and white-ball cricket, which is very satisfying.
“I feel that I’m in a good place with my batting and I think I’ve made progress. I’ve taken my opportunity and I feel I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been going into the pre-season.”
In the immediate future Hameed’s focus will be on Lancashire’s first five County Championship matches – “that’s a third of the season right there,” he said – but he is insistent his goal is to play all three formats and believes his technique can be adjusted to suit each of them throughout the 2018 domestic campaign.
“It’s nice to have back-to-back games, just to help you get into that routine and rhythm,” he said.
“But my game is built around not changing too much between formats, but keeping my basics right. It was pleasing to do that on the pre-season tour but it’s something I’ve been able to do from a young age.
“Last year people saw the run of low scores I had and thought the one-day game was affecting me, but I don’t think that was the case. This year I hope to show I can adapt to both.
“I’m still extremely young and I’ve got a lot to look forward to. I don’t like to set limits on how much I can achieve. I’ll keep working on my game so that at the right times I can play for England.”
The simplicity of Hameed’s comments is not deceptive, but not for a moment should be interpreted as shallowness. Rather, it is consonant with a batting style which, at its best, displays exquisite judgment. When Hameed is at his best, batting looks so very straightforward.
“My job is to perform,” he said.
“And my mindset is to play to the best of my ability.
“The rest will look after itself.”
