Hameed expects Aussie crowd to be a factor
Lancashire and England opener Haseeb Hameed feels that the crowds in Australia will play a big role in the Ashes series.
Hameed missed out on the tour after an indifferent return from an injury suffered while on England duty in India.
The teenager has backed Joe Root’s team to come out on top in a hotly contested Ashes campaign but admitted it won’t be at all easy for the tourists.
Hameed told Lancashire’s website: “I think everyone knows it’s going to be a difficult series because anytime you go to Australia it’s never going to be easy.
“There’s the added hype and expectation around an Ashes series and from I’ve heard, it sounds like the Australian crowd gets pretty involved. There’s definitely more pressure around a series against Australia compared to any other Test side.
“We should be optimistic about England’s chances. We’ve got an experienced bowling line up and it’s going to be important that they pick up wickets. We’ve got a different skill set to Australia which is fair to say but England have so much experience in the side.
“We’ve got bowlers like Jimmy and Broady who will take wickets, whilst in the batting you’ve got Cook, Root, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow who you’d back to score runs in any conditions.
“Australia, much like England in many ways, don’t have all their starting places in the side nailed on so it’s going to be an interesting series. I’m backing England to win 2-1.”
England have struggled to fill the openers slot alongside stalwart and former skipper Alastair Cook, with Hameed among those trialed in the position along with Keaton Jennings and incumbent Mark Stoneman.
The first of five Ashes Tests gets underway on November 23 in Brisbane.
Latest
-
NewsCaptain Joe Root completes fine double century as England build formidable lead
Root became only the fifth England player to score a Test double hundred in Asia.
-
NewsSri Lanka v England Day 2: Joe Root excels alongside Dan Lawrence
The England captain and his new team-mate added 173 to build England’s advantage.
-
NewsNine rookies in Pakistan squad for South Africa series
Pakistan have included nine uncapped players in their 20-man squad for the two-Tests against South Africa, starting on January 26.
-
NewsLabuschagne upset after not scoring ‘big’ hundred
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne might have been the star of the show on the first day of the fourth Test against India.
-
NewsJoe Root backs up plea for strong England start with century against Sri Lanka
The skipper had urged his team to impress from the word go and led by example with 168 not out in Galle.
-
NewsJoe Root century strengthens England’s grip on first Test against Sri Lanka
Dan Lawrence hits 73 on debut as England reach 320 for four at tea, a lead of 185.
-
NewsEngland captain Joe Root celebrates a century against Sri Lanka
Root brought up his 18th Test ton after being stranded on 99 at lunch in Galle.
-
NewsJoe Root 99 not out at lunch as England look to build big advantage
Root and Test debutant Dan Lawrence have steered the tourists to a lead of 71 with seven wickets intact.
-
NewsHeather Knight excited by freedom on offer after New Zealand quarantine
England Women will be able to break out of the coronavirus ‘bubble’ lifestyle in a country which has effectively contained the disease.
-
NewsSri Lanka v England day one: Tourists carve out dominant performance in Galle
The tourists skittled Sri Lanka for 135 then replied with 127 for two.