THE irresistable rise of Haseeb Hameed has come as no surprise to observers during his time learning his trade in Bolton.

The Lancashire star was always tipped to reach the top as a youngster at Tonge and Farnworth Social Circle cricket clubs.

And after a brilliant first full season with the Red Rose, he was due to make his England debut this morning in the first Test match against India.

England captain Alistair Cook announced yesterday the 19-year-old Bolton star would be his opening partner in Rajkot, the latest outstanding milestone in his meteoric rise to fame.

It all started in Bolton for Hameed where chairman of the Bolton Cricket League, John Hutchinson remembers his excitement at seeing the unlimited potential within the fledgling batsman years ago.

And he is sure the teenage sensation has the physical and mental tools to go all the way with the national team.

"Haseeb's career so far has been a tremendous achievement and playing for England is something that has been coming since he was about 12," said Hutchinson, who is also vice-president of Farnworth Social Circle.

"I have never known any player stand out so much for so many successive years, not just during one or two seasons.

"I'm very confident Haseeb can make the step up to international cricket.

"I was his manager in quite a few of our junior sides and when he first arrived from Tonge you could see straight away that he was several classes above the others, even at the age of about 12.

"His talent carried on throughout his junior career and I have never seen a player perform so consistently at such a high level. He had a bit of a blip at about 14, which he admits to, but he was always way in advance of anyone else at the club, he had such a great temperament and character.

"At that time we had a lot of good young players at the same age, it was an exceptional time in the league.

These talented lads were each putting in good performances and their achievements gave the others an incentive – I don't think it's any coincidence that these players had their dads coaching them and that they all put the hard work in, they deserve the rewards they get.

"A great deal of credit has to go Haseeb's dad, Ismail. He deserves it. A lot of people have been influential to Haseeb but it starts with his dad, then us at Farnworth Social Circle next and then Bolton District coaches such as Neil Taylor. It is good for the Bolton League and very satisfying to see these players, effectively products of the league, progressing well with their careers.

"The other lads all loved playing alongside Haseeb, he got the others to raise their game and improve their standards. He would be welcomed back at Farnworth Social Circle any time."

Hameed, the youngest player to represent Lancashire since the war, was named the county's player-of-the-year after scoring nearly 1,200 runs. He also made history in August by becoming the first Lancashire batsman to score centuries in both innings of a Roses clash in the County Championship.

And Hutchinson feels, should Hameed need to decide to dedicate himself to either red or white-ball his future – bright as it is – lays firmly in the longer format of the game.

"I would say he is an old fashioned style of batsman, he's never going to be a Twenty20 cricketer," he said. "His technique is second to none and he has the most amazing temperament. I think he'd be a good chess player, he is that mentally strong. He will definitely be a success opening the batting in Test cricket.

"His dad knew early on that Haseeb would have to specialise, and concentrate on one form of cricket or the other.

"Haseeb still wants to learn about the game too, he is psychologically very strong and his approach and dedication are second to none."