England and Sri Lanka are back in the longest format. But before the upcoming two Test matches, the English squad faced a huge setback. Star English bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out from the remaining two Test matches. Josh Hull, Leicestershire’s left-arm seamer, replaces Wood in England’s squad for the final two Tests against Sri Lanka.
Mark Wood Has Been Ruled Out:
After a long break, England and Sri Lanka are back in the Longest format. They are scheduled to play a three-match Test series. In the first Test, England showcased their excellence and won the first Test match by 5 wickets. But just after the match, the English side faced a huge setback.
England fast bowler Mark Wood has been ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test series due to a muscle strain, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on August 25. Wood left the field during the second innings of the first Test. He will miss the remaining two matches of the series.
Who is Josh Hull?
Josh Hull, the left-arm seamer from Leicestershire, has been added to England’s squad for the final two Tests against Sri Lanka. At just 20 years old, Hull has been selected as a replacement for the injured Mark Wood. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall, Hull played a key role in Leicestershire’s 2023 One-Day Cup victory.
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Hull’s Rise in Cricket:
Josh Hull’s rise in cricket has been impressive. His parents own a farm near Oundle, where his father set up a cricket net in a disused barn during lockdown. This setup allowed Hull and his brother Ollie, who also plays for Leicestershire, to practice extensively. Bowling at his brother helped Hull improve rapidly.
Hull attended Stamford School. Former England bowler Dean Headley was his coach. Headley recommended Hull to Phil Defreitas, who was managing Leicestershire’s academy at the time. Within a year of joining the club, Hull was playing first-team cricket in the Metro Bank Cup.
Hull’s Impressive Career So Far:
Earlier this month, Hull made a notable debut for the England Lions against Sri Lanka, taking five wickets for 74 runs in a seven-wicket win. This was an incredible performance. His performance in domestic cricket includes 9 first-class games with 15 wickets at an average of 58.06.
He has also excelled in List A cricket, with 17 wickets from 9 matches at an average of 24.23. Despite taking only two wickets in three Championship games this season, Hull showed his potential by reaching speeds up to 90mph during his debut in the Hundred for Manchester Originals last month.
Hull is currently participating in Leicestershire’s Championship match against Gloucestershire. He Will join England’s squad in London before the second Test at Lord’s.
England Squad: Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Dan Lawrence, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
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