Five alternatives for Keaton Jennings

#1 Haseeb Hameed

Haseeb Hameed impressed on his England debut in India last year, when he hit two half-centuries

A Lancashire prodigy to have represented six different age group sides, Hameed made his first-class debut as recently as August 2015. Only four games that season were enough to indicate the emergence of a confident teenager as he planted a calm 91 in just his third appearance. Hameed’s crafty batting made an early impression, as his natural ability to block as well as drive pleased experts, especially considering his tender age.

Hameed accumulated over 1,000 runs during the 2016 campaign, thus becoming the youngest Lancastrian to the landmark. Hameed maintains discipline while producing elegant cover drives, and while still only 19, and after a sparkling first full season at Old Trafford, he eventually made his Test debut in the first Test in India.

Encountering the threat of spinning pitches flawlessly, Hameed got a composed 82 to confirm his maturity. But a broken finger ruled him out of the final two Tests, as he valiantly got an unbeaten 59 despite the injury in Mohali.

Unfortunately for Hameed, he lost form in county cricket right at the wrong time with England due to name their squad for the South Africa series, and combined with Keaton Jennings’ debut hundred, Hameed missed out on selection.

But there lies a genuine possibility of a reversal especially if Jennings flops again and Hameed is given a second go considering his positive attitude with the bat.