Harry Singh, a young cricketer, took the position of 12th man for England during their first Test match against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in Manchester. Singh was on field early in the Test after England chose to bowl first. He went back to play just after lunch as substitute for Harry Brook.
Who is Harry Singh and what does he have to do with Indian cricket?
Harry Singh is not just another Singh surname holder; he has deep connections with the game of Indian cricket. His father RP Singh Senior played for India during the 1980s. RP senior, a left-arm fast bowler appeared in two ODIs against Australia in 1986 and enjoyed a successful career at home.
During his career Harry’s father played in fifty-nine first-class matches taking 150 wickets and scoring 1413 runs. The final match he ever played was a competitive Duleep Trophy encounter between Central Zone and North Zone in 1991.
RP Singh Senior, who retired from playing later went into coaching before moving to England in the late nineties. He began working with Lancashire County Cricket Club as well as England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Harry’s cricketing life
Harry Singh has been steadily making progress within his own career of cricket like that of his father.
In July this year, he made his One-Day Cup List A debut for Lancashire where he played seven games. In those seven innings, the twenty-year-old has scored 87 runs at an average of only 12.42 and strike rate of sixty-four point four four, highest score being twenty-five (25). Also, he picked up two wickets using his off spinners.
Singh’s talent was spotted at age eighteen when England invited him over to represent England U19 side playing against their Sri Lankan counterparts at home in one series that summer..