Josh Hull, the 20-year-old fast bowler, is set to make his England Test debut this Friday, marking a remarkable rise in his career. Hull has been selected for the final Test match of the summer against Sri Lanka at The Oval, replacing Matt Potts in the only change from the side that secured a series victory at Lord’s.
Standing at 6ft 7in, Hull has only played nine County Championship matches, and in his three appearances for Leicestershire this season, he claimed two wickets at a high average of 182.50. However, his five-wicket haul for England Lions against Sri Lanka last month propelled him into consideration for the national squad. Following Mark Wood’s withdrawal due to injury, Hull was called up to the Test team. The seamer may debut in all three formats within just two weeks, as he’s also been included in the T20 and ODI squads for the upcoming series against Australia, starting next Wednesday in Southampton.
Ollie Pope, who is expected to conclude his stint as England’s stand-in captain after this match, praised Hull’s potential. Pope noted that Hull’s height and ability to bowl at speeds between 85-90mph, combined with his left-arm swing, make him a unique asset. While expressing sympathy for Potts, Pope pointed out that it was the right time to offer someone like Hull a fresh opportunity and see what he brings to the team.
Pope, who faced Hull in the nets for the first time this week, was impressed with his performance. He mentioned that Hull had worked closely with veteran Jimmy Anderson and caught the attention of head coach Brendon McCullum, which should give him confidence ahead of his debut. "He’s definitely ready," Pope said after seeing Hull bowl.
Hull’s inclusion reflects England’s recent trend of trusting young talent under McCullum’s leadership. His debut follows the likes of Rehan Ahmed, who became England’s youngest-ever Test player at 18, and Shoaib Bashir, who debuted at 20 earlier this year and played in all six Tests this summer.
Despite his inexperience, Hull enters his first Test with more first-class matches under his belt than Ahmed or Bashir at the time of their debuts. The Sri Lanka XI, having faced him in the Lions match, will have some insight into his abilities ahead of Friday’s game. Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne noted that Hull improved significantly during that match, showing both bounce and swing, and that his team would be prepared for him.
Karunaratne also pointed out that England’s willingness to back young players shows the team’s faith in talent over experience. He said that the captain and coaching staff trust their players, giving youngsters confidence to perform at the highest level. For Karunaratne, this approach benefits the development of juniors, proving that if a player is talented enough, they don’t need extensive first-class experience to earn a spot in the England squad.
England’s preparations for the final Test began shortly after the conclusion of the Lord’s match, with some players, including Joe Root and Ben Duckett, opting to rest. Meanwhile, several team members attended the funeral of former England player and coach Graham Thorpe, where Root and Ben Stokes served as pallbearers.