Shoaib Bashir Returns to England Cricket Team
Shoaib Bashir is set to make his return to the England cricket team at Lord’s on Thursday, marking a significant moment in his career. It has been 11 months and one challenging Ashes tour since his last Test appearance. The off-spinner has managed to overcome competition from all-rounder Rehan Ahmed and will reclaim his spot in the XI for the match against New Zealand.
This development leaves only one position open in the first Rothesay Test of the summer. Hampshire’s Sonny Baker is vying for a debut, but Gus Atkinson is expected to maintain his place on a ground where he has performed exceptionally well over the past two summers.
Bashir’s return to the England team comes after a difficult period, including a two-month drubbing in Australia, where he found himself surplus to requirements. His last Test appearance was memorable, as he took the match-winning wicket against India with a broken finger last July.
Head coach Brendon McCullum highlighted the strengths of both spin options available to the team. He said: “I think they are both young and exciting and they’ve had some great days already in an England shirt. Bash has the ability to play more of a holding role in the first couple of days here at Lord’s. As the game deepens, and if spin starts to become more prevalent, then he can go more into an attacking role. There’s a little bit of tactical nuance there.”
While Bashir was always considered the front-runner due to the selectors’ previous investment, Baker has managed to push his way into their consideration due to a mixed weather forecast.
England were expecting clear skies for their afternoon practice session but were soon forced indoors by thunder and lightning. McCullum suggested that conditions would need to be just right for Baker to play ahead of Atkinson, who has taken 19 wickets at 10.94 as well as a century in his two previous outings at the home of cricket. However, McCullum gave a glowing reference to the 23-year-old.
“He’s quick,” McCullum said. “I think he’s going to be a cricketer that the country really gets behind. You can see he charges in and leaves everything out there. Some guys have a bit more of a rhythmical component to their style. I think Sonny is full noise.”
“He swings the ball both ways. He hits probably a slightly fuller length, he’s obviously got the ability to touch 90mph and he’s got a skiddy bouncer. If it is this Test, I’d expect him to do a good job. If it’s not this Test, his time will come.”
“We’ll just work out whether we want that extra air speed, if all of a sudden it becomes 35 degrees and flattens out, or if we stick to what’s tried and tested at Lord’s.”
McCullum has now spoken in four separate engagements in the past seven days, two in-house and two in front of the media.
In the past, he has been criticised for making infrequent appearances, but the New Zealander explained his willingness to do the talking after a difficult winter for his team.
“The temperature has been a bit hot of late and we all recognise that,” he said. “When you’re in these positions, your job is to make sure you stand up and you’re present. You’ll probably see me a bit more often than you have previously. Hopefully you’re able to explain and navigate your way through these things, while getting your team to the start line. We can wear some of the other stuff.”
