Former cricketer Michael Atherton was thrilled with Shoaib Bashir’s selection in England’s five-match Test series against India. He mentioned that the team management was courageous enough with their picks as they focused on spinners who could do well in Indian conditions and didn’t just choose players based on their county numbers. The 55-year-old also added that Bashir’s call-up was the most remarkable selection of his time.
Notably, the 20-year-old is all set to make his debut for England in the second Test against India in Visakhapatnam. Experienced spinner Jack Leach is ruled out with a knee injury, which has opened the door for the spinner. He will partner with Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed, who don’t have a lot of experience in Test cricket as well. However, Atherton is confident of England’s punt as he mentioned that more often than not, the Ben Stokes-led side comes victorious.
“I can’t think of a more remarkable selection in my time watching the England team. England have taken lots of punts on leg-spinners – Chris Schofield, Scott Borthwick, Mason Crane, Rehan Ahmed – but regulation finger spinners have usually got into the team after showing a fair amount in county cricket,” Michael Atherton told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
“Rather than getting county averages out and picking the best 11 players, they are saying, ‘what are the conditions we are playing, and what gives us the best chance?’ They start from that and work backwards, finding guys that fit the bill,” he added.
Bashir is not too dissimilar to Tom Hartley: Atherton
Analysing Bashir’s bowling action, Atherton stated that he is not too dissimilar to Hartley, who picked up nine wickets in the first Test in Hyderabad. He added that the youngster has Monty Panesar-like fingers, which would help him grip the ball well and deliver in the spin-friendly conditions of India.
“What they like about Bashir is that he is not too dissimilar to Tom Hartley. They have taken a view that spinners that have been successful in India have been tall, drive the ball into the surface, and bowl very quickly. I watched Bashir in the nets and he probably has an inch on Hartley. He has big, long fingers – Monty Panesar-type fingers. Panesar was a bowler who could wrap his fingers around the ball and give it a rip and Bashir has got that as well,” Atherton said.
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