Shoaib Bashir Archives

England face major setback as key player ruled out of remainder of India series

LONDON: In a major blow to England, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out of the remainder of the India series.

Shoaib Bashir, who took India’s last wicket in a memorable win for England at Lord’s, took a blow to his left little finger during the 78th over of the visitors’ first innings.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the 22-year-old will not feature in the forthcoming two Test matches.

“England spinner Shoaib Bashir has sustained a fracture to his left finger and has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rothesay Test series against India,” the board said.

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“He is scheduled to undergo surgery later this week,” it added. England will name their squad for the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford in the next couple of days.”

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Following the injury, the 21-year-old off-spinner spent much of the match off the field with a fracture to his little left finger — on his non-bowling hand.

With a thrilling victory against India, England led the five-match series 2-1; however, Shoaib Bashir’s absence will necessitate the call-up of a new specialist for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, set to commence on 23 July.

The likes of experienced Liam Dawson and Jack Leach are vying to fill the gap left by Bashir’s absence.

Moreover, Bashir’s place in the team has been called into question recently, with his 10 wickets in three Tests against India this series coming at an expensive average of over 54.

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England rising star Bashir ‘still learning tricks of the trade’

England’s Shoaib Bashir may already be a Test-match winning bowler but the 20-year-old off-spinner insists he’s still learning “the tricks of the trade”.

The towering Bashir ripped through the West Indies in the second Test at Trent Bridge, taking 5-41 on Sunday’s fourth day as the tourists lost all 10 of their second-innings wickets in 23 overs, with England winning by 241 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Bashir had only made six first-class appearances when he was catapulted into the Test side during a tour of India earlier this year and he responded with two five-wicket hauls on pitches renowned for aiding spinners.

But his progress appeared to have stalled at the start of the English county season, with Bashir kept out of the Somerset side by a more experienced England spinner in Jack Leach.

Shoaib Bashir went on loan to county rivals Worcestershire in a bid to get more game time but England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum kept faith all the same.

“A lot has happened in the last few years,” said Bashir. “I can’t get ahead of Leachy at Somerset, understandably, he’s obviously played a lot more cricket than I have.

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“Jack was over the moon for me (getting selected for England). We had a chat and he just told me to enjoy it. He’s a class spinner and I’ve learned a lot off him. There’s always so much to learn. I’m only 20, I’m still learning the tricks of the trade.

“There’s a lot to work on, in cricket you never complete the game. Going on loan was a decision I had to make to play cricket at a high level, that’s part of the journey.”

He added: “I didn’t have too many expectations going into this game, I’m still trying to comprehend what’s happened.”

Shoaib Bashir has now taken a highly promising 24 wickets at an average of 29.83 in five Tests compared to a modest return of 16 at 70.68 in 10 domestic first-class matches.

But the current England selectors are not overly concerned by statistics, with team management identifying Bashir’s height and ability to get drift, in addition to bowling an attacking line, as qualities that made him suited to international cricket.

“Bowling spin in England is pretty tough, but I’m grateful I’m a 6ft 4in (1.93 metres) spinner because it’s a nice attribute to have,” he said.

“The extra bounce helps. We saw it here (at Trent Bridge), if you land the ball in the right areas, a few will bounce and a few will skid on. I’ve got experienced guys in the team that help me make judgments on the pitch, what lines to bowl and what paces to bowl.

“I’m just grateful to be in the position I am. I’m always going to stay grounded, stay humble, and I’m just trying to enjoy every moment I have in an England shirt.”

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Shoaib Bashir bowls England to series-clinching win over West Indies

Shoaib Bashir took his career-best figures as England thrashed the West Indies by 241 runs to secure a series-clinching win in the second Test at Trent Bridge on Sunday after the tourists suffered a spectacular collapse.

The 20-year-old off-spinner finished with a superb return of 5-41 as the West Indies, set 385 to win, slumped to 143 all out in the second Test.

The West Indies had actually made a steady start to their stiff chase to be 61-0 only to collapse in stunning style, with all 10 of their second-innings wickets lost in 23 overs.

Victory gave England an unassailable 2-0 lead in a three-match series following their innings and 114-run win at Lord’s.

West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis came through some testing early overs from an England attack without retired pace greats James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the first time in a home Test since 2012.

But when Chris Woakes (2-28) had Louis caught behind off the first ball after the drinks break, it was the start of a spectacular top-order slump that saw six wickets lost for just 30 runs.

Bashir then struck with his third ball, dismissing Kirk McKenzie cheaply for the second time in the match when wicketkeeper Jamie Smith held a good catch off an edge from a dragged-down delivery.

West Indies captain Brathwaite had looked in fine touch while making a near run-a-ball 47, including eight fours.

But for the second time this match, the experienced opener fell in sight of a fifty when was caught behind off a fine Woakes delivery.

And 74-3 became 75-4 when Kavem Hodge, fresh from his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, was plumb lbw for a duck to Bashir as he played back.

Bashir then struck again with a classic delivery that drifted and turned to have Alick Athanaze, who made 82 in West Indies’ first-innings 457, caught at first slip by Joe Root for just one.

Fast bowler Gus Atkinson’s two wickets in three balls left the tourists on the brink of defeat at 113-8.

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But it was Shoaib Bashir who finished the match, bowling Jason Holder (37) — who had hit for two sixes — with a full and flatter delivery before knocking over Shamar Joseph as the No 11 heaved across the line.

West Indies were all out inside 37 overs, with 17 wickets having fallen in the day on a blameless pitch.

Earlier, both Root and Harry Brook hit hundreds as England made 425 in their second innings.

Root struck 122 and Brook 109, with the duo sharing a partnership of 189 after they had come together on Saturday when England were just 99 runs ahead at 140-3.

Root’s century left him one shy of the England record of 33 Test hundreds held by the retired Alastair Cook.

England started Sunday’s play on 248-3, already 207 runs in front. Brook was 71 not out and Root was unbeaten on 37.

Brook’s straight-driven four off Jayden Seales saw him into the 90s before two more boundaries off Alzarri Joseph took him to 99.

The 25-year-old’s quick single off Alzarri Joseph ensured Brook got to three figures, his fifth hundred in 14 Tests — but first in England — coming in just 118 balls, including 12 fours.

But Root showed there was still a place for the traditional red-ball approach, with the 33-year-old completing a 91-ball fifty.

Brook’s impressive innings finally came to an end when he was caught behind aiming a flat-footed drive off Seales.

Root’s typically stylish square-driven boundary off Alzarri Joseph — just his seventh four in 158 balls — took him to a sedate century.

Former England captain Root then reverse-scooped Shamar Joseph over the slip cordon for an extravagant four before he was caught at short extra cover off Holder.

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England’s Shoaib Bashir sees ‘chance to be heroes’ in tight India Test

England’s Shoaib Bashir said on Sunday a finely poised fourth Test against India offers his team’s young spin attack the “chance to be heroes”.

Bashir took his first five-wicket haul in only his second Test to help bowl India out for 307 in the morning session of the third day in Ranchi before the hosts fought back, with India needing another 152 runs with 10 wickets in hand to win the match and the series.

Bashir, 20, and fellow spinner Tom Hartley, 24, are both still new to Test cricket but shared eight wickets between them in India’s first innings.

However, senior Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav then turned up the heat with nine wickets between them to dismiss England for 145 and tilt the game in the hosts’ favour as they chase a winning total of 192.

India lead the five-match series 2-1 but Bashir remained confident of an England victory in Ranchi and then a decider in Dharamsala.

“I know tomorrow I have a job to do and me and Tommy are really excited for the challenge,” Bashir told reporters after India made it to stumps on 40-0 in their second innings.

“We saw how Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowled on that wicket, and we take huge confidence from that,” he said.

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Bashir said the challenge to outdo the experienced opposition spinners spurs him on.

“We’ve still got a bit of a rivalry going on. I used to watch these guys when I was a bit younger and they’re world-class spinners,” he said.

“We know us two lads are up against a world-class attack but we’ve got a chance to be heroes,” he said.

Shoaib Bashir, who missed the opening match due to a visa issue and made his debut in the second Test in Visakhapatnam, rattled the Indian batting with four wickets on day two during a marathon spell of 31 overs unchanged.

He trapped debutant Akash Deep lbw for his fifth wicket on Sunday and kissed the ground in celebration.

“It was a very special moment on my journey,” Bashir said.

“Two years ago, I wouldn’t have thought anything like this (would happen)… It was quite emotional as well.

“I lost my two granddads about a year-and-a-half ago and they used to just sit and watch Test cricket all the time. Their wish was to see me out on the TV, I know they’re supporting me from up above,” he said.

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England’s Shoaib Bashir rattle India after Joe Root’s unbeaten 122

RANCHI: England spinner Shoaib Bashir ran through India’s middle-order with four wickets and restricted the hosts to 219/7 at Stumps on Day 2 of the ongoing fourth Test here on Saturday.

India were trailing by another 134 runs when the stumps were called with wicketkeeper batter Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav unbeaten at the crease.

The duo of Jurel (30) and Yadav (17) batted sensibly in the final hour of the second day to stop England’s bowling charge, who had India reduced to 177/7.

The hosts had a shaky start to their innings as their skipper Rohit Sharma (2) perished cheaply with just four runs on the board.

But in-form opener Yashasvi Jaiswal partnered strongly with Shubman Gill and anchored the innings.

They added 82 runs for the second wicket before Shoaib Bashir got Gill lbw with a sharply spun delivery. The right-handed batter scored 38 with the help of six boundaries.

Jaiswal then put on brief partnerships with Rajat Patidar (17) and Ravindra Jadeja (12) before finally perishing in the final session.

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He remained the top-scorer for India with a gutsy 73 which featured eight boundaries and a six.

The home side found themselves in heaps of trouble earlier in the third session as Sarfaraz Khan (14) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1) also fell cheaply, bringing India down to 177/7.

Earlier in the day, England resumed their first innings with an overnight score of 302/7 with Joe Root and Ollie Robbinson.

The pair started from where they left off and appeared in complete control until Jadeja broke the threatening partnership by getting Robbinson caught behind.

Robbinson scored 58 off 96 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries including a six.

His dismissal exposed England’s batting tail and Jadeja, fuelled with momentum, struck twice again in his consecutive overs to book England on 353.

England’s star with the bat Joe Root remained unbeaten with a gutsy 122 which featured 10 boundaries.

Ravindra Jadeja led the bowling attack for India with four wickets, followed Akash Deep, who bagged three on debut.

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Three uncapped players named in England squad for India Tests

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday, announced a 16-man squad for the five-match away Test series against India, featuring three uncapped players Shoaib Bashir, Gus Atkinson and Tom Hartley.

Atkinson had a remarkable stint in the County Championship when he picked up 20 wickets in five matches at an average of 20.20, playing a pivotal role in Surrey claiming back-to-back titles.

Hartley and Bashir, on the other hand, were both part of the England Lions squad that trained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month.

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Shoaib Bashir, who made his professional debut in June after signing a professional contract with Somerset, has thus far played only six first-class matches and picked up 10 wickets at an average of 67.

Hartley too, has a modest first-class record for Lancashire, with 40 career wickets at 36.57.

Meanwhile, England Test captain Ben Stokes, who recently underwent knee surgery last month, is also included in the squad.

However, it remains uncertain whether the dynamic all-rounder would be fit enough to bowl in the series.

Ben Foakes, who was dropped for the Ashes, has been recalled for the India Tests, while Jack Leach and Ollie Pope both return to the squad after recovering from back and shoulder injuries during the English summer.

England’s 16-man squad for the India Tests features four spinners and as many pacers.

England Test squad: 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.

England’s Tour of India Itinerary:

1st Test: India v England, 25-29 January, Hyderabad
2nd Test: India v England, 2-6 February, Vizag
3rd Test: India v England, 15-19 February, Rajkot
4th Test: India v England, 23-27 February, Ranchi
5th Test: India v England, 7-11 March, Dharamsala

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