England ponder replacement for injured opener Haseeb Hameed
Wednesday 30 November 2016 09:49, UK
England are expected to name a replacement in the next 12 hours for injured opener Haseeb Hameed.
Hameed won universal praise for his battling 59 not out in the second-innings of England's eight-wicket third Test defeat to India after suffering a broken left little finger.
But the 19-year-old must now fly home to fix the problem, leaving England to ponder his temporary replacement for the final two matches of the series, which England trail 2-0.
However, they are expected to be able to call on Chris Woakes for the fourth Test, which starts in Mumbai on December 8, despite x-rays showing the paceman has a tiny crack in his right thumb after taking a blow while batting.
Coach Trevor Bayliss has not ruled out promoting Ben Duckett back up the order to replace Hameed, despite the left-hander's loss of form at number four which cost him his place after the first two Tests of this campaign.
"Duckett is an option," said the Australian. "He opened for us in Bangladesh."
Another option would be to call an England Lion from their tour of Dubai, with Keaton Jennings and Nick Gubbins heading that list.
"We're starting that process now, so we hope we'll know in the next 24 hours," said Bayliss.
Speaking shortly after India had passed a target of only 103 to win inside four days, he added: "I think the replacement player will be a higher-order player, and then we've got to make a decision."
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