England's Bold New Hop
Brendon McCullum was recently asked what caught his eye about Josh Hull, the 6-foot-7 left-arm fast bowler. While the question wasn’t posed as cheekily as Mrs Merton's famous interview with Debbie McGee, McCullum’s response made it clear that Hull is seen as a valuable asset for England’s upcoming Test match against Sri Lanka.
McCullum pointed out that Hull’s height, combined with his left-arm pace reaching up to 90 mph, was reminiscent of legends like Jimmy Anderson. At just 20 years old, Hull had already impressed McCullum with his potential. McCullum remarked that selecting Hull wasn’t a huge risk, given his promising attributes and strong background in farming.
Unconventional Selection
While Hull’s selection might seem unusual, it highlights McCullum’s determination to challenge the traditional English cricketing approach. In his two-and-a-half years of the innovative “Bazball” style, McCullum has frequently pushed boundaries, and Hull represents one of his boldest choices yet.
McCullum acknowledged the unpredictability of Hull’s debut but emphasised that it didn’t really matter how things played out immediately. He stressed that the young bowler was someone worth nurturing and that the team would stand by him, ensuring he knew he was a long-term investment for England’s future.
One intriguing aspect of Hull’s selection is how it may benefit another young talent on the team, Shoaib Bashir. The 20-year-old off-spinner, like Hull, had limited first-class experience when called up. McCullum expressed excitement about how Hull’s footmarks on the pitch could provide Bashir with extra spin opportunities. Regardless of Hull’s debut performance, McCullum made it clear that Hull would offer England another valuable weapon, capable of contributing in different conditions.
Despite Hull’s less-than-impressive first-class record this season — with just two wickets at an average of 182.50 — McCullum remained optimistic. He pointed out that, since he and Ben Stokes took charge, several players had exceeded expectations on their debut, including Gus Atkinson and Bashir, who had quickly become integral parts of the team.
McCullum explained that while the talent they had introduced had gone beyond their hopes, the team didn’t expect immediate results. The priority was on long-term potential, and McCullum cited Zak Crawley as an example of someone who had developed over time into a key player for England.
Stepping Up in Stokes' Absence
Adding to the irony of Hull’s debut is the venue: The Oval, home to Surrey, England’s county cricket champions. Despite Surrey’s dominance, several of their players, like Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, no longer fit into England’s Test plans. Meanwhile, players like Atkinson and Ollie Pope, both products of Surrey’s system, are vital to the current regime.
McCullum explained that England’s selection criteria for Test matches had evolved to seek out players with higher ceilings, even if they had limited county cricket experience. The aim was to find “rough diamonds” who could be honed into world-class talents.
Interestingly, Hull will be making his debut under the captaincy of Ollie Pope, as Stokes is unavailable. McCullum expressed confidence in Pope’s ability to lead, particularly praising his aggressive captaincy in England’s recent victory push at Lord’s.
While Pope’s recent batting form has been under scrutiny, McCullum downplayed concerns, stating that Pope had been instrumental in England’s success over the past few years and that his leadership skills were still growing. McCullum reassured fans that Stokes had faith in Pope’s captaincy, and that faith was proving well-placed.
As Josh Hull prepares for his debut, McCullum’s unconventional methods continue to reshape English cricket, showcasing a willingness to back youthful talent and take risks that may well pay off in the long run.