20-year-old Shoaib Bashir earns England call for upcoming White-ball series against India
Shoaib Bashir, the 20-year-old offspinner from Somerset with 10 wickets in his brief first-class career, secures a spot in England’s 16-man squad for the upcoming five-match Test series in India in early 2024. Among the uncapped players, left-arm spinner Tom Hartley and fast bowler Gus Atkinson also find a place in the squad, having previously represented England in limited-overs cricket.
The squad includes captain Ben Stokes, recovering from knee surgery, and wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes, who makes a return after being dropped for the Ashes. Jack Leach and Ollie Pope, who faced injuries during the English summer, are also back in the squad.
Rehan Ahmed, with seven wickets on his Test debut in Karachi a year ago, joins the squad as one of the specialist spin options, alongside Leach, Hartley, and Bashir. The pace attack comprises James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood, leaving no room for Chris Woakes.
Rob Key, England’s director of cricket emphasized Shoaib Bashir’s natural attributes and abilities post selection
Shoaib Bashir’s inclusion stands out despite his limited first-class experience, as his impressive performance for England Lions in the UAE, especially against Afghanistan’s A team, earned him a place in the Test squad. England’s director of cricket, Rob Key, emphasizes the selectors’ focus on players’ styles and upside, beyond just statistical achievements. The squad is set to travel to the UAE for a preparatory camp in mid-January before arriving in India for the first Test in Hyderabad on January 25.
“We focus more on the style of cricket we want to play and what we believe will lead to success,” Key explained. “It’s about identifying someone’s upside. Especially for spinners in English cricket, it’s challenging to assess them solely based on their numbers. You wouldn’t expect a spinner to average 24 with the ball in county cricket. We’re looking for something else and backing their character.
“We want to see how the ball comes out of their hand. It’s more about the art of selection rather than the science of selection. We trust the environment created by Stokes and McCullum, along with the other players, to bring out the best in these individuals. Stokesy’s captaincy, in particular, often proves to be the catalyst for getting the most out of players. The goal is to establish an environment where they can thrive, which is no small feat, especially on a Test tour of India.”
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
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