The decision to include Shoaib Bashir in England’s five-match Test series against India delighted former cricketer Michael Atherton. He said that the squad management showed bravery in their selections by not just selecting players based on their county numbers but also on spinners who may perform well in Indian circumstances. The 55-year-old continued by saying that Bashir’s call-up was the most impressive decision he had ever made.
Notably, the 20-year-old will play his first Test match for England in Visakhapatnam against India. Due to a knee injury, seasoned spinner Jack Leach is out, making room for the spinner. Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley, who are not as experienced in Test cricket, will be his partners. Atherton is optimistic about England’s punt, though, having noted that the Ben Stokes-led team typically wins.
I have never seen an even more impressive choice when watching the England squad. Chris Schofield, Scott Borthwick, Mason Crane, and Rehan Ahmed are just a few of the leg-spinners that England has gambled on, but regular finger spinners have typically made the team after putting up a respectable amount of work in county cricket, according to Michael Atherton on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
“They are saying, ‘What are the conditions we are playing in, and what offers us the best chance?’ rather than pulling out county averages and selecting the top 11 players. He continued, They discover guys who suit the bill by working backwards from there.
Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley are somewhat similar. Atherton
According to Atherton’s analysis of Shoaib Bashir’s bowling action, he is not too unlike Hartley, who claimed nine wickets in the first Test match in Hyderabad. He went on to say that the child’s fingers resembled those of Monty Panesar, which would help him deliver in India’s spin-friendly conditions and maintain a firm grip on the ball.
The similarity between Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley is what appeals to them about him. They have adopted the belief that tall, forceful spinners who bowl rapidly are the ones who have been successful in India. I saw Bashir in the nets, and it looks like he has Hartley beat by about an inch. His fingers are large and lengthy, resembling those of Monty Panesar. Shoaib Bashir has the same ability as Panesar, who was a bowler who could wrap his fingers around the ball and give it a rip, according to Atherton.
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