Picture by John Heald. George Hill has earned his maiden England Lions call.
New England Lions all-rounder George Hill says frustration with the bat this summer has played its part in his fabulous run of form with the ball for Yorkshire.
Hill’s rapidly developing seam bowling has captured a superb 27 wickets from six Rothesay County Championship matches, and he is the second leading wicket-taker in Division One.
The 24-year-old has claimed hauls of 6-51 and 5-66 at stages during the county’s last two matches away against Essex and Surrey. In the former, at Chelmsford, he returned career best match figures of 9-82.
The former England Under 19s all-rounder has deservedly earned his maiden Lions call-up for two upcoming four-day matches against India A at the end of this month and the start of next.
The first is at Canterbury from May 30 and the second at Northampton from June 6.
Somerset’s wicketkeeper-batter James Rew will captain a squad which includes England senior seamer Chris Woakes, who has been out of action with an ankle injury.
Hill has been outstanding for Yorkshire with the ball this summer, including taking the new ball at stages.
And while he has contributed scores of 63 and 64 from the middle order in matches against Worcestershire and Durham last month, he hasn’t contributed the weight of runs he would have wanted. But that will come, he has no doubt.
“Yeah, definitely,” he agreed. “I’ve done a lot of chatting, and I’m working really hard in the nets on that side of things.
“It’s also giving me little bit of extra motivation when I get the ball, just because I love fighting for Yorkshire, and I love all the lads in that changing room.
“I don’t really want to be letting them down.
“So, I think when you’ve got a chance to impact the game for the good and do that for the team, that’s what I really want to do.”
