IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Surpassing renowned names it’s youngster Shoaib Bashir who made his maiden Test debut in England’s second Test against India on Friday at Vishakapatnam. And guess what? The stunning -ff-break spinner grabbed the limelight by scalping the wicket of India’s Captain, Rohit Sharma right on his fourth over. Rightly known for his bowling style & off-break spin, Shoaib Bashir bowled a perfect length off-spinner with Rohit going for a leg pull shot which was caught at the slips by Ollie Pope. And the result is dangerous Rohit walking off the field after scoring just 14 runs in 41 balls.
Now you might be thinking how this 20-year-old spinner got the chance of featuring in the National team. So, let us make you aware of his extraordinary skills that grabbed the attention of England’s Captain, Ben Stokes.
Shoaib Bashir- The Rising star of England Cricket
Shoaib Bashir is a Somerset Cricketer who was born on 13th October 2023. The right-arm off-break spinner made his first-class debut for Somerset against Essex on 11th June 2023. He made his T20 Blast debut for Somerset against Hampshire on 7th June 2023.
How did Shoaib Bashir step into the International Cricket Arena?
Bashir was named in England’s 16-man squad for India tour in December 2023. Bashir has played just six first-class games having signed a contract with Somerset for the 2023 season. He enjoys a stellar record of 10 wickets at an average of 67.00 which is unbelievable. However, the life-changing moment for Bahsir came when he was included in the England Lions Training Camp in the UAE, taking six wickets against Afghanistan A in front of Brendon McCullum and Rob Key.
The youngster was already in the eyes of McCullum & Key & his distinct off-break spin grabbed the attention of Captain Ben Stokes. England’s Captain was in awe of Bashir’s bowling skills when Stokes saw Bashir’s potential via clips on social media after bowling to Alastair Cook on his first-class debut, which he forwarded to Key and McCullum on WhatsApp.
They have also assessed IHawk Cameras data worn by County Cricket umpires to have a look at Bahsir’s bowling in depth. And finally, England decided to hand Shoaib Bashir his maiden call-up to the National team by naming him in the 16-man squad for India’s Test tour. On 2nd February, Shoaib Bashir received his maiden Test Cap in England’s second Test against India in Vishakhapatnam. Notably, he walks as a replacement of one of the most experienced spinners of England, Jack Leach who has been ruled out of the second Test due to an injury.
Shoaib Bashir Biography
Bashir is born & brought up in a Pakistani Muslim family. He is a tall off-spinner with 6.4 inch height. He does off-break spin bowling & has scalped two wickets so far in his debut Test Match.
A Glimpse of Shoaib Bashir’s Domestic Career
Shoaib Bashir began his career playing club cricket for Guildford followed by age-group cricket with Surrey and Middlesex, and Minor Counties cricket for Berkshire. He spends the winter of 2022-2023 playing club cricket in Australia.
His life-changing moment came in October 2022 when Somerset handed him the contract for the 2023 season of the County Championship. He got the contract with Somerset after impressing one & all in Somerset Second-XI fixtures in which he took nine wickets at an average of just 14.11 with a best of 5 for 44 against Warwickshire Second XI.
He has played warm-up fixtures in red ball format before the County Championship in April 2023, whilst continuing to play Second-XI matches for the county at the start of the 2023 season. Bashir then made his T20 Blast debut on June 7, 2023 for Somerset against Hampshire. But it was only on 9th June 2023 that he turned the heads around by scalping 3 wickets for 26 & guiding Somerset to a stunning victory against Gloucestershire.
On 10th June 2023, Somerset announced that Bashir had signed a two-year contract extension with the club & will be in the house until the 2025 season. He made his first-class debut for Somerset against Essex on 11 June 2023. On 15 July 2023, he featured on finals day as Somerset beat Surrey and Essex to win the T20 Blast at Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Bashir’s eye-catching stints during his first class against Essex helped him to earn his dream Test Debut Cap.
How did Stokes picked Bashir for India Tour
After witnessing ultimate success of debutant Tom Hartley & rehan Ahmed in the Hyderabad Test, Stokes decided to give big break to off-spinner Bashir who came in as a replacement for Jack Leach. Notably, Leach is the most experienced spinner on the tour who is out due to injury.
Bashir has been picked for England’s Test tour ignoring the leading spinner of County Championship 2023, Liam Dawson. And Bashir didn’t disappoint Stokes & CO as he went on to scalp 2 wickets for 100 runs.
After scalping Rohit Sharma’s wicket Bashir again struck in the 86th over to dismiss Axar Patel for 27 runs off 51 balls with four boundaries. Bashir bowled s short delivery outside off & Patel went for the cut shot but the ball bounced on him. Axra was not in control of the shot which he played in the air with Rehan completing a simple catch. And there came an end of Axar Patel’s short-lived innings off Bashir’s delivery.
Can Shoaib Bashir will continue his good run in 2nd Innings as well?
Despite of facing visa issues to get into the country he finally made it one week after England’s Test team landed in India. Bashir joined England’s squad on day four of the Hyderabad Test but that didn’t let his morale down as he took the field for the second Test with full confidence & returned with two prized wickets right on his debut match.
What happened on Day 1 of the IND vs ENG 2nd Test?
The much-anticipated IND vs ENG 2nd Test saw new faces making a debut in both teams. Rohit Sharma handed a Test cap to Rajat Patidar while England handed his debut to Shoaib Bashir. Batting first, India got off to a poor start with Rohit Sharma walking back to the hut in the 18th over after scoring 14 runs off 41 balls. Following him Shubman Gill (34 off 46) & Shreyas Iyer (27 off 59) went back to the hut off Tom Hartley’s delivery.
Meanwhile, Rehan Ahmed ended Patidar’s knock as the latter chopped onto the stumps. The leg-spinner also dismissed KS Bharat for 17 off 23. But the opener Yashasvi stole the show by scoring a stellar century. The left-handed batter stayed unbeaten on 179 runs off 257 balls in an innings embellished with five sixes & 17 fours. On the back of Jaiswal’s gleaming century, India ended Day 1 at 366-6 with Jaiswal & R Ashwin staying unbeaten at the crease. The duo will resume India’s innings on Day 2 of the India vs England 2nd Test.
Can Shoaib Bashir show the heroics of Day 1 on Day 2 as well or India will exceed in its lead? All the questions will be answered tomorrow on the field.
Till then stay tuned to Sportsermon.in
