He spent last summer blazing the ball all over the park in the domestic Twenty20 competition in England. Now Michael Lumb has continued where he left off in the shortest format of the game, top scoring for the England Lions in their first tour match against United Arab Emirates A in Sharjah.Coming in at number three after a reasonable platform had been set by openers Steve Davies and Craig Kieswetter, Lumb took the attack to the opposition in the manner that Hampshire fans have been accustomed to last season. He hit 3 fours and a six as he racked up 42 off 32 balls before being run out. His contribution allowed the rest of the England batsman to pile up an imposing total of 184 for 6, a score that UAE A were unable to even approach.
Lumb opened for Hampshire in domestic Twenty20 last season but adapted his game excellently to suit his new role at first drop for the Lions. And his assured performance will add to the growing calls for his inclusion in the full England side. A free flowing and naturally attacking batsman, Lumb could offer England a mode of attack similar to that provided by Eoin Morgan, another left hander, who has been wowing English fans over the winter.
Lumb’s talent is starting to be recognised on the world stage. His former Hampshire captain Shane Warne was quick to snap him up for the Rajasthan Royals for this season’s Indian Premier League, where he‘ll play alongside his current skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas. Lumb is one of only a handful of English players who will appear at the tournament, confirming his reputation as one of England’s top Twenty20 specialists.
More performances like the first one in Sharjah and Lumb’s international stock will continue to rise.
(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)
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