'England highly impressed by Hampshire right-hander'
Thursday 12 May 2016 19:04, UK
James Vince will “step up and show his class” when he makes his Test debut for England against Sri Lanka at Headingley, says Nasser Hussain.
Vince is in line to bat at No 5 in next week's first Test, having been called into the squad as a replacement for the now-retired James Taylor.
The Hampshire man's first-class batting average is a shade over 41 but Hussain is in no doubt that the right-hander - a regular member of England's one-day squads - will flourish at the highest level.
"He really impressed this winter in the limited-overs games and around the team," Hussain said of Vince on Sky Sports News HQ.
"They couldn't quite get him in the World T20 side but if you spoke to Trevor Bayliss or Paul Farbrace they said that having seen him net that he had something about him.
"He is a very elegant player and reminds me of Michael Vaughan, not only in his stroke play but also in the fact he is getting 20s and 30s in county cricket yet people think there is a lot more to come.
"He's someone that as he steps up will show his class."
Vince will combat a Sri Lanka side devoid of the retired Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene and Hussain expects England to earn revenge from their 1-0 series defeat two years ago.
"Eleven of the 17 players in the Sri Lanka squad were here last time but with no Sangakkara and Jayawardene, the batting looks flimsy," added Hussain.
"They will be in English conditions, particularly at Durham and Headingley, and if the English seamers get it right with the Duke ball, I think it will be a very one-sided Test series."
Watch England's three-Test series with Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports, starting with the opening game, at Headingley, from 10am on Sky Sports 2 on Thursday, May 19.
