Josh Hull, a towering 6ft 7in left-arm seamer from Leicestershire, has been handed his England Test debut in the third match of the series against Sri Lanka at The Oval. Hull, who only turned 20 last month, replaces Matthew Potts in the only change to the side that secured a 190-run victory at Lord’s, giving England an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Despite Hull’s modest County Championship figures — 11 wickets at 84.54 in nine appearances for Leicestershire — his physical attributes and potential have impressed England’s selectors. Hull took 5 for 74 on his England Lions debut last month, showcasing his ability to make an impact at the international level. His inclusion marks him as the first left-arm seamer to play for England in Tests since Sam Curran in 2021 and only the second since Ryan Sidebottom in 2010.
A Unique Addition to England’s Attack
Ollie Pope, standing in as captain for the injured Ben Stokes, praised Hull’s attributes, calling him a “point of difference” in England’s attack. “When you’re 6ft 7in and pushing 85-90mph, with a left-arm angle and a bit of swing, it’s exciting,” Pope said. Hull’s height and left-arm action are expected to add extra bounce and angles to England’s bowling attack, which had previously featured four right-arm seamers in the series.
Pope also highlighted how Hull’s bounce would challenge Sri Lanka’s batters, particularly on The Oval’s surface, which can offer extra lift early in games. “It makes it a lot harder to drive the ball, especially if there is a little bit of bounce at The Oval,” Pope added.
England’s Bold Selection Approach
Hull’s selection reflects England’s willingness to look beyond pure statistics when identifying talent. His inclusion follows the bold selection of Shoaib Bashir, another young talent who has made an early impact despite limited first-class experience. Hull joins a growing list of bowlers who have thrived under England’s current setup, which has seen five bowlers claim five-wicket hauls on debut since the new regime took charge.
Matthew Potts, who made way for Hull, took five wickets in the first two Tests but was outshone by Gus Atkinson, whose five-wicket haul at Lord’s cemented his place in the XI.
Sri Lanka’s Take on Hull
Sri Lanka’s opener Dimuth Karunaratne acknowledged Hull’s talent, recalling his impressive Lions debut at Worcester. “He bowled really well… got some bounce and swing. He has a good future for England cricket,” Karunaratne said. However, he also noted that having faced Hull previously might provide Sri Lanka with an advantage as they formulate their plans against him.
England XI vs Sri Lanka:
- Dan Lawrence
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope (capt)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Olly Stone
- Josh Hull
- Shoaib Bashir
As Hull steps into the international spotlight, his inclusion marks another bold decision by England, who will hope his unique attributes can help complete a series sweep against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
