Left-Arm seamer Josh Hull set for England Test debut against Sri Lanka at The Oval
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
Josh Hull, a towering 6ft 7in left-arm seamer, is set to make his England debut in the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval starting this Friday. Hull, who only turned 20 last month, will replace Matthew Potts in the squad as England's sole change following their 190-run victory at Lord’s, which secured a 2-0 lead in the series.
Hull’s selection came after Mark Wood was sidelined with a thigh injury, making the young seamer an unexpected choice. Despite only 11 wickets at an average of 84.54 in nine County Championship games for Leicestershire, Hull's physical presence and recent performance with the England Lions taking 5 for 74 on debut caught the attention of the national team’s selectors.
Hull Can Make a Huge Impact - Ollie Pope
Hull was also named in England's white-ball squad for the upcoming series against Australia, but his Test debut likely means he'll miss the first T20I scheduled just a day after the Test ends.
Ollie Pope, the stand in-captain for the injured Ben Stokes, is excited about Hull’s potential, both in terms of his literal height and cricketing future. “When you’re 6ft 7in and can bowl close to 85-90mph with swing from the left-arm angle, there’s a lot to like,” Pope said. “It’s going to be an exciting week for him.”
Pope highlighted Hull's ability to add a “point of difference” to England’s attack, especially with his extra bounce and unique left-arm angle, which should trouble both right and left-handers at The Oval.
Hull’s inclusion follows Matthew Potts' five wickets at 29.60 over the first two Tests. Although Potts delivered a key spell at Old Trafford, Gus Atkinson’s five-wicket haul in the second innings at Lord's his third of a standout debut summer—solidified his place in the attack.
First Ever Left Arm Seamer to Play for England in Test's since 2021
Hull becomes the first left-arm seamer to play a Test for England since Sam Curran in 2021, and only the second since Ryan Sidebottom’s last appearance in 2010. His selection continues England’s trend of looking beyond simple stats, a strategy that has already paid off with multiple debutant five-wicket hauls under the current regime.
Pope acknowledged that while statistics can sometimes speak for themselves, England’s bold selections have focused on potential and long-term development. “Shoaib Bashir and now Josh Hull coming in shows there’s more to selection than just numbers,” Pope said, crediting Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes for their courage in bringing young talent into the squad.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne echoed Pope’s sentiments on young players, citing the success of England’s management in nurturing youth. He also acknowledged Hull’s impressive performance for the Lions and hinted that Sri Lanka has plans in place to counter his attributes.
“He bowled really well in the practice game,” Karunaratne noted. “He has bounce and swing, and a bright future in England cricket. We’ve faced him before, so we’ll have our strategies ready.”
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