The highly anticipated India tour has seen the announcement of the England cricket selectors’ Test team, which includes the uncapped 20-year-old offspinner Shoaib Bashir.
Despite having only played six first-class matches, he has already made an impression on the cricketing world with his extraordinary abilities and earned a spot in the English test squad.
England is all set to lock horns with India in a five-match Test series that will begin in Hyderabad on January 25.
With three uncapped players, the England selection has chosen to balance youth and experience, with Shoaib Bashir at the forefront of the group.
Joining him are left-arm spinner Tom Hartley and fast bowler Gus Atkinson, both of whom have showcased their prowess in limited-overs cricket for England.
Despite concerns surrounding his fitness, Ben Stokes finds himself in the England squad against India.
The return of Ben Foakes, who faced exclusion during the Ashes, along with the comeback of Jack Leach and Ollie Pope, bolsters the squad’s depth and resilience.
Who is Shoaib Bashir: Check the details
Shoaib Bashir’s journey to the national Test squad is nothing short of meteoric.
Born on October 13, 2003, Bashir made his professional debut in June and has rapidly jumped through the ranks, catching the selectors’ eye with his stellar performances for Somerset.
His standout moment came during England Lions’ recent training camp in the UAE, where he exhibited his bowling prowess with figures of 6 for 42 against Afghanistan’s A team.
Who is Shoaib Bashir: Career stats
Starting his career with Surrey at the tender age of 17, Bashir swiftly progressed and featured prominently for Berkshire Under-18s.
He then made his first-class debut at 19 for Somerset, where he made an indelible mark with an impressive performance against none other than England legend Alastair Cook.
In six First-Class matches, Bashir has scalped 10 wickets at an average of 67. His limited-overs experience includes seven List-A matches with three wickets and five T20s with four wickets.
Despite a modest return of 10 wickets in the 2023 County Championship from six matches, Bashir’s undeniable potential has propelled him to the forefront of England’s Test plans.
Spin-Heavy Strategy for India
The England squad reflects a strategic stress on spin, with Bashir joining forces with Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, and Rehan Ahmed as the specialist spin options.
The quartet presents a diverse array of spin-bowling talents, providing Captain Ben Stokes with versatile choices to exploit the spin-friendly conditions anticipated in India.
England Test Squad for India Tour
Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (captain), Mark Wood
