England call up teen pacer Jack for training

Teenage fast bowler Eddie Jack has been “invited to practise” with England’s senior team ahead of the first Test against India after claiming four wickets for the Lions against India ‘A’ in the two four-day games, according to a report.

India begin their new World Test Championship cycle taking on England in a five-match series beginning with the first match at Headingley from June 20.

The Hampshire seamer, 19,  caught the selectors’ attention by dismissing India batter KL Rahul, who had scored a century in the first innings, during their drawn second unofficial Test in Northampton. Standing at 6-foot-4, Jack has “impressed” England Lions’s coaching group, including Andrew Flintoff, Mark Wood and Graeme Swann, The Times, London, reported.

Jack, who is yet to make his County Championship debut for Hampshire, has played two first-class matches — both against India ‘A’ — and represented England U-19s earlier this year in South Africa.

He also took five wickets last month in a warm-up game against Zimbabwe, while playing for a combined counties XI.

In Northampton, Jack regularly beat the bat of India Test stars. He dismissed Jurel and returned with figures of 2-71 in the second innings.

Jack’s call-up comes at a time when England’s pace stocks are depleted with less than 10 days to go for the opening Test. Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the first Test, Mark Wood is unavailable for the entire summer due to injury, while Gus Atkinson is recovering from a hamstring strain he sustained during the one-off Test against Zimbabwe a fortnight ago.

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No. of wickets Eddie Jack took against India ‘A’ in two games

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