Watch out for Hameed: Coach Trevor Bayliss

Hameed scored 82 on debut in the second innings in Rajkot, watched by his parents and several family members in the Indian state which was once home to his mother and father. Bayliss, though, is wary of adding the pressure of unfair expectation on the 19-yearold's shoulders, after he hit the highest Test score by any English teenager in the drawn series opener. Even so, the Australian could not stop himself comparing Hameed's run-hungry approach - on and off the field - with that of Sri Lanka's record-breaker Kumar Sangakkara. 

Bayliss saw at first hand, as Sri Lanka coach, what made Sangakkara tick - and he has already spotted similar qualities in Hameed. “It's early days obviously for him - but the early signs are that he's a very, very good player,” he said. “For one so young, 19, his composure is very good. He knows how his game works - something that players years in advance of him would like to have, I think. 

“Without wanting to put too much pressure on him, the signs are good.” Hameed's assured behaviour on his maiden tour, of course, has also been noted. Bayliss said: “He's been with the squad for about six weeks, but it feels like he's been here for two or three years - he's got that type of a personality. “He's one of those batters, a little bit like a Sangakkara, who just loves batting - whether it's in the nets, having throwdowns or with a tennis ball in the changing room. He just loves to have a bat in his hand.” 

Hameed figured in an opening stand of 180 with Alastair Cook, who went on to post his 30th Test century before declaring on 260 for three and allowing his bowlers to apply late pressure on India. The hosts then recovered from 71 for four, with two hours left to play, to close out the stalemate on 172 for six. Cook praised the performance of debutant opener Haseeb Hameed who made 31 and 82 and showed good character and all-rounder Ben Stokes who came up with knocks of 128 and 29 not out. 

"He’s (Hameed) an unbelievable player, pushing me closer to retirement. A 19-year-old outscored me. He is a find, isn’t he? We said before the game we had no doubt he could play. He’s certainly a good player," he said about the Indian origin debutant. "He’s our golden player. He balances the side, allows us to play three spinners, three seamers and bats at six on turning wickets - probably his last (ultimate) challenge,” he said about Ben Stokes.