‘Reminds me of Mitchell Johnson’ – Stuart Broad analyses Josh Hull’s performance in Oval Test

Josh Hull. (Source – Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Stuart Broad analysed the performance of right-arm seamer Josh Hull, who made his international debut for England in the ongoing third Test against Sri Lanka at the Kennington Oval in London. The legendary England seamer also suggested a tweak in Hull’s action that could help the youngster extract more bounce.

Standing at 6ft 7 inches tall, Hull is the tallest pacer to have ever played for England. He replaced Matthew Potts in the third Test and finished with figures of 3/53 from 11 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings. Broad compared his slingy action to that of former Australian tearaway pacer Mitchell Johnson.

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“He reminds me slightly of Mitchell Johnson with that slingy action so he could get that bowling arm closer to the ear and deliver from higher. But you have to be able to do that and not lose the swing as that is a great threat of his. The slingy action might not be a negative. It might not allow you to get the bounce you would like but you can get the ball to skid on,” the 38-year-old said, as per quoted by Sky Sports.

Broad went on to explain the technical aspects of Hull’s bowling action and asserted that he will only get quicker with age.

“I have been really impressed. He has been picked on attributes. His height, his bounce, getting the ball to swing back into the right-handed batter. An average of 83mph is fine in Test match cricket but he will get quicker the older he gets. I think his run-up will evolve over time. I don’t think it will stay as long as it is at the moment. The big thing for me is that his feet and hips are facing the target – he is aligned really nicely to make the batters play,” Broad added.

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Hull and the other England pacers will have to put on a great shift on Day 4 of the third Test as Sri Lanka need only 125 runs to win with nine wickets left in the tank. Hull bowled three overs in the final session on Day 3 and went for 23 runs. England conceded 94 runs in just 15 overs and will have to come out with better plans on Day 4 to put the tourists under pressure.