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regular-article-logo Saturday, 04 May 2024

India vs England, Test series: Michael Vaughan sees an Ravichandran Ashwin in Shoaib Bashir

Despite England’s five-wicket loss in the fourth Test in Ranchi, the 20-year-old Bashir impressed as he returned with a match haul of eight wickets

Our Bureau, PTI London Published 02.03.24, 08:14 AM
Shoaib Bashir during the ongoing Test series.

Shoaib Bashir during the ongoing Test series. Getty Images

He is just two Tests old, but Michael Vaughan is already sure that off-spinner Shoaib Bashir is a “world-class superstar” who has the skills to rise to the lofty heights of success in the world of spin like Ravichandran Ashwin.

Despite England’s five-wicket loss in the fourth Test in Ranchi, the 20-year-old Bashir impressed as he returned with a match haul of eight wickets. His performance included a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

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Ashwin, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the best off-spinners in the history of Test cricket. The senior spinner recently became only the second Indian bowler to tally 500 wickets in the longest format and is set for his 100th Test in Dharamsala next week against England.

“One of the great weeks, celebrating another world-class superstar that we’ve unearthed, Shoaib Bashir. That’s what we’re celebrating. Second Test match, eight wickets, he’s the new Ravi Ashwin, and we’ve unearthed him. So, we’re celebrating a new superstar in English cricket,” former captain Vaughan said on Club Prairie Fire’s YouTube channel.

India handed England their first series defeat under coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes after winning the Test in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the ongoing series.

Vaughan though feels that the conditions in Dharamsala will facilitate an England win.

“They will go with their best XI. It’s going to be cold in Dharamsala and it will suit England. I expect England to win,” Vaughan said.

England coach McCullum had recently said that Bashir and Tom Hartley, the other young spinner in the current team, needed to get more games in county cricket. Taking note of that, Somerset, where Bashir plays, are ready to let go the offie on loan so that he gets more game-time elsewhere.

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