'The Pinnacle of Test Cricket' | Hull Targeting 2025 Ashes

Josh Hull is targeting Ashes cricket in 2025, as the 6ft 7” Foxes star looks to add another milestone to his meteoric ascent.

After realising his dream of becoming an England Test international this summer, the 20-year-old has now set his sights on realising another childhood ambition, bringing the urn home from Down Under.

“Ashes cricket is the pinnacle of Test cricket,” he says. “All the great moments happen in those series. Looking back at the history and the hype behind it, it’s an incredibly special series and something I’d love to play in one day.

“Before I made my Test debut, the thought wasn’t on my mind and didn’t feel close. Since being around that environment, it’s something which, hopefully, is achievable. It’s still a year away and a lot can change, but Ashes cricket is something you dream about. If it happened, it’d be an amazing opportunity.”

The Leicestershire Academy graduate should be pushing his case for a spot on the plane during England’s tour of Pakistan this month, but instead finds himself training alone in the gym at Uptonsteel County Ground as he recovers from a quad injury sustained on Test debut.

After the latest morning of rehabilitation work with the Club’s Sports Science and Medicine department, Hull provides a positive update on his return to fitness. “The rehab is going well. It’s keeping me busy, I’m the gym four or five days a week at the moment. But it’s coming along well, and I’m feeling good.

“It’s been a gradual process. I’m at the stage now to push more in the gym trying to get as strong as possible and add running in alongside that work. I’m not too far away from bowling, so I’m happy.”

Despite his recent injury setback, Hull is still firmly in England’s plans. He’ll be travelling to South Africa with Freddie Flintoff’s England Lions for a ‘high potential player’ training camp next month, with the three-week tour designed to further develop England's talent pool across formats.

“It’ll be a really good opportunity to develop my game,” he says. “It’s nice to be considered in that bracket [high potential] and have the chance to work alongside some great coaches.

“I’ve identified things I want to work on, but I’ll chat to the coaches and see what they think. I want to build up a decent load fitness wise and make improvements on certain aspects of my bowling that I’ve discussed with Fonz [Alfonso Thomas].”

Importantly for Hull, the trip gives him the luxury to bowl outside in the South African spring, rather than being cooped up indoors in the looming English winter.

“The last two winters have all been indoors for me, so it’s nice to be able to continue playing outdoors - I’m really excited for that. I’ve made the most out of everything I could’ve done indoors in the last couple of years, but ultimately when you’re playing outside, on grass wickets and in match scenarios, it’s best for your development.”

With a November to March grind before players usually touch grass, Hull also highlights how the trip will help keep him fresher for the start of the 2025 season with Leicestershire.

“I suppose it helps when April comes around. It’s always a quick turnaround from indoor to outdoor and that can be quite difficult to adjust to. Going away during the winter and carrying on definitely makes it easier coming back here for the start of the season.”

Hull’s debut delight against Sri Lanka concluded a whirlwind 12 months for the left-arm quick. In September 2023, he bowled the match-clinching final over as Leicestershire lifted the Metro Bank One Day Cup. In September 2024, he became the 716^th player to don an England Test cap as he impressed with a debut three-fer.

“So much has put me in this position when I compare my game to this time last year,” he admits. “I’m always thinking about how I can improve and how I can learn off the people I’m around.” One such voice was Jimmy Anderson.

“I spent a fair bit of time with Jimmy during the Lord’s game when I was 12^th man, and he was great with me. I had a bowl with him and tapped into his vast knowledge base, which was an incredible and slightly surreal insight for me to receive.”

Raring to go for the winter, Hull is bidding to be fitter than ever to strengthen his domestic and international ambitions in 2025.

“Obviously, it was frustrating to miss the start of last season, but I want to hit the ground running next year. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the Members, trying to entertain them and being competitive in all formats. The goal is to win more trophies for Leicestershire.”

A towering talent with lofty aspirations, an Ashes call and a second piece of silverware with the Foxes in 2025 would set an early bar for the height of Hull’s success. And although he’s 6ft 7”, England’s next big thing certainly doesn’t have his head in the clouds.

“Hopefully next year I can look back again and say I’ve gotten better but that’ll only come with hard work. I’m trying to develop my game day by day and not look too far ahead. If I can do that well, who knows what will happen?”

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