Hull fired up by beasting and Anderson 'gold dust'

Leicestershire fast bowler reflects on 'surreal' Test debut last year, bulking up and advice from a legend

- Ali Martin

Josh Hull returns for Leicestershire this week, his first outing since that fast-tracked Test debut against Sri Lanka last summer. A winter "beasting" by the England Lions fitness coaches has the giant left-armer feeling stronger, with a more robust base from which to attack a potentially huge year of cricket.

Through no fault of his own, Hull was seen as the embodiment of Bazball braggadocio at the end of last season when thrown into Test cricket after just 10 first-class games as England blew their shot at a perfect summer. It was no disgrace - first-innings figures of three for 53 - but ended with a quad strain that underlined the physicality required.