After dismissing Sri Lanka for a mere 139 runs on the first day of their warm-up match in Worcester, the England Lions concluded day two with a total of 324 runs. "Telegraph Sport" had a closer look at how the standout players performed against the experienced Test side.
Hamza Shaikh
Hamza Shaikh, the first player to make his first-class debut for the England Lions, marked the occasion with an impressive 91 off 204 balls. At just 18 years old and hailing from Birmingham, Shaikh's calm and composed defence was instrumental in guiding the Lions to a first-innings lead of 185 over Sri Lanka. This match served as the only warm-up game for Sri Lanka before they faced England in the first Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Shaikh's ability to play strokes with finesse has not gone unnoticed by England's senior management. Starting the day unbeaten on 21, Shaikh continued his steady approach throughout the morning, reaching 54 before picking up the pace. He showcased two exquisite shots: a three-run stroke to deep midwicket off a short-length ball and a flawless on-drive reminiscent of Joe Root. His balance was so precise that he followed the ball down the pitch.
Throughout his innings, Shaikh effectively countered Sri Lanka's left-arm spinner, Prabath Jayasuriya. Taller and faster than his predecessor, Rangana Herath, Jayasuriya targeted Shaikh's pads. While Lions captain Lyndon James succumbed to an LBW by playing around his front pad, Shaikh was unyielding, either defending straight or taking singles with confidence.
As the second new ball approached, an older batsman might have accelerated, sensing the opportunity to become the first to score a century for the Lions on debut. However, Shaikh, needing three runs per over to reach the milestone, was caught out on 91 while attempting a leg-side shot, sending the ball skyward for Kasun Rajitha to catch. Though he narrowly missed his century, Shaikh can take solace in the century he scored for England Under-19s against Sri Lanka Under-19s at Cheltenham when he captained the side.
Kasey Aldridge
Somerset's 23-year-old allrounder, Kasey Aldridge, played a crucial role in the Lions' seventh-wicket partnership of 104 runs with Shaikh, putting them in a strong position to defeat the visitors—assuming the New Road pitch doesn't flatten out. During their partnership, it appeared that Shaikh agreed to let Aldridge take on Jayasuriya, who has an astonishing 71 wickets from just 12 Tests, including 25 wickets from his two matches against Ireland and one against Afghanistan.
Aldridge, undeterred by Jayasuriya's reputation, hit two sixes off the spinner and went on to score 78 runs off 96 balls. Both sixes were straight hits, with the second one narrowly missing a female spectator in the New Road stand, rebounding off a wall behind her and hitting her on the back of the head. She was fortunately able to walk to the St John’s ambulance station for treatment. Facing Sri Lanka's seamers proved more challenging when they took the second new ball, and Aldridge eventually ran out of partners as the pitch continued to offer some assistance. He did his best to protect Josh Hull but was ultimately dismissed, caught at long-on, while attempting another big shot off Jayasuriya.
Aldridge's powerful shoulders are an asset when bowling pace, and he has shown an ability to extract life from even the dullest surfaces. His growing potential as an all-rounder could see him represent England in one format or another, especially as his batting continues to improve.
Josh Hull
Australia discovered a towering left-arm swing bowler in Spencer Johnson from South Australia, and England may have found a similar talent in Josh Hull of Leicestershire. However, while Johnson, now 28, has only played five first-class games and continues to thrive on the T20 circuit without any signs of replacing Mitchell Starc in Australia's Test team, Hull, who turns 20 next week, is already on England's radar as a potential contender for the next Ashes tour in Australia.
Hull, playing in his ninth first-class match, has already made an impression, although the number of matches he has played may seem modest by traditional standards. In today’s game, fast bowlers with exceptional potential are carefully managed to prevent stress-related injuries. Hull's performance in this game was notable, as he took three wickets for 30 runs, his best innings performance to date, by swinging the new ball effectively on the opening morning. His current pace might be in the low 80s mph, but his potential for growth, combined with his swing from a high release point, makes him a prospect to watch. His temperament has already been proven, having bowled the final over in the Metro One-Day Cup final last September, where he secured a rare victory for Leicestershire by defeating Hampshire.
Ollie Price
The challenge of developing in three formats simultaneously is something cricketers of the past never had to face, but Ollie Price, a 23-year-old Durham graduate, is quietly excelling in this area. Having been part of the Lions squad in India last winter, Price may have been slightly overambitious in the Lions’ first innings against Sri Lanka, leading to his dismissal off Jayasuriya. Nonetheless, Price is building a solid reputation as a top-order batsman—he was one of the Lions' standout performers last winter—and a part-time off-spinner.
Like many young Gloucestershire batsmen, Price has had to learn through experience, as their overseas player Cameron Bancroft is not an established international figure. While it might be too late for him to make it to the England team in any format, his potential for improvement, his selection for this game, his leadership qualities, and the sheer volume of England's fixtures could still earn him a place in the squad.