Josh Hull is set to make his Test debut at The Oval
England have opted to bring in left-arm pacer Josh Hull, naming him in the XI for the final Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
The Leicestershire fast bowler has shown impressive progress in the domestic circuit over the past year, earning his spot for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia, a testament to his growing reputation.
Hull steps in for Matthew Potts in a rotational move, following Potts’ strong performances in the first two Tests.
While Potts claimed five wickets across four innings, his knack for breaking key partnerships and controlling the run rate has been crucial to England’s victories.
Hull’s inclusion adds extra firepower to an already aggressive pace attack featuring Olly Stone and Gus Atkinson, making it one of England’s most intimidating line-ups in terms of raw pace.
Chris Woakes remains the leader of the attack with his precision and consistency.
Hull also brings a left-arm option, something England have lacked since Sam Curran’s absence.
Standing at 6’7″, Hull’s height allows him to generate uncomfortable bounce, which has prompted selectors to fast-track his inclusion despite modest returns from his nine First-class matches.
Stand-in skipper Ollie Pope supported the decision, expressing confidence in Hull’s potential impact.
“With that height, he can draw more edges thanks to the extra bounce,” Pope said during the press conference.
“It makes it harder to drive, especially if there’s a bit of bounce at The Oval early on.
The left-arm angle offers something different for the opposition, with the ball coming into the right-hander and moving away from the left-hander, adding variety to our attack.
Plus, he’s shown some good pace in the nets when he’s in rhythm.”
England XI:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Dan Lawrence |
| Ben Duckett |
| Ollie Pope (Captain) |
| Joe Root |
| Harry Brook |
| Jamie Smith (WK) |
| Chris Woakes |
| Gus Atkinson |
| Olly Stone |
| Josh Hull |
| Shoaib Bashir |
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