Bashir ānot perfectā and ālearning on the jobā

Shoaib Bashir has taken 41 Test wickets since making his England debut against India in February
-
Published
England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir said he is ānot perfectā and ālearning on the jobā after his four wickets on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Bashir, 21, has had a rapid rise since making a surprise England debut on the tour of India. No other bowler has sent down more deliveries in Tests than Bashir this year.
The Somerset man struggled during the 2-1 series defeat in Pakistan last month, but his 4-69 helped limit New Zealand to 319-8 at Hagley Oval.
āI wouldnāt say I was disappointed but there was a bit of frustration when I was bowling out in Pakistan,ā Bashir told the Test Match Special podcast.
āIām still 21, Iāve still got a lot of learning to do. Iām just enjoying every moment and Iām just so thankful.ā
After England won the toss and chose to field on a green surface, Bashir said he was not expecting to get through the 20 overs he bowled.
He had Rachin Ravindra clip a full toss to mid-wicket, only for Kane Williamsonās 93 to give New Zealand the upper hand.
But Williamsonās chop to point off Gus Atkinson opened the door for England and Bashir took the final three wickets to fall in the day. He is only the second spinner to take a four-wicket haul at Hagley Oval and has the opportunity to become the first to claim a five-for.
-
-
Published6 hours ago
-
-
-
Published13 hours ago
-
āI knew that if I did come on, Iād have a job to do and thankfully, I controlled the run-rate which was handy,ā said Bashir.
Bashirās success came despite a battle against a strong wind, which he bowled into for most of the day.
In three Tests in Pakistan, on surfaces offering plenty for the spinners, Bashir managed nine wickets at a cost of nearly 50 runs each. In Christchurch, he improved by dropping his pace, averaging 52.2mph compared to almost 58mph in Pakistan.
āI was bowling a touch slower but I was focusing on controlling my line with the wind,ā he said.
āBecause the wind was very strong, I was trying to focus on what I needed to do with my body to get the line I needed to bowl, which was outside off.ā
Bashir has been elevated to Englandās first-choice spinner ahead of Jack Leach and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.
Despite that, he remains behind Leach in the pecking order at Somerset and went on loan to Worcestershire during the summer.
Still, his 2,745 deliveries bowled in Test cricket this year is more than 500 than the next busiest bowler, Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
Only Indiaās Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin, with 49 and 46 wickets respectively, have more than Bashirās 45 in 2024.
āIām learning on the job and Iām not perfect,ā said Bashir. āTwo years ago I didnāt have a county. Iām just very, very thankful for what has happened over the last year.ā
Related topics
-
-
Published6 June
-