KEATON Jennings says his “outstanding” Lancashire team-mate Haseeb Hameed will bounce back from being left out of the Red Rose’s County Championship team.

The Bolton opener was dropped from Lancashire’s draw against Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford last week following a run of low scores.

Hameed has not posted a first-class century since hitting two in the same Championship game against Yorkshire in August 2016.

The former Tonge and Farnworth Social Circle junior earned a place in England’s Test team later that year as a result of a stunning start to first-team cricket.

But, having suffered a broken finger, he found himself out of the team, coincidentally replaced by then Durham batsman Jennings.

Last season for Lancashire, Hameed scored 513 Championship runs in 12 matches with only three fifties.

This season, in six first-class or Championship innings, the 21-year-old has posted scores of five, three, 19, eight, one and four alongside new opening partner Jennings.

“Has is a brilliant player,” said the left-hander.

“Early season (batting) is hard – it’s mentally draining at times.

“Balls go round where you think you’ve done everything right and you’ve actually got out.

“It’s hard work, and Has is a good player. There’s no doubt in my mind he will be back and will be scoring big runs in no time at all.”

Jennings thinks some time away from the spotlight of first-team cricket, where a lot of focus is on Hameed given he is a Test Match candidate, will be good for the young Bolton man.

“At times it’s almost better to pull yourself out of the firing line so you can learn and get better,” he said.

“It’s not the first time anyone has been dropped, and it’s definitely not the last.

“You try like hell, none of the guys take their foot off the gas at any point, so I think at times the flak they get is quite tough and not appreciated.

“But he’s an outstanding cricketer and an outstanding person.”