IND vs ENG 2024: Shoaib Bashir debut call one of the most remarkable selections in my time, says Michael Atherton

Former England captain Michael Atherton admitted that Shoaib Bashir’s debut call is one of the most remarkable selections he has seen. Bashir replaced Jack Leach in England’s playing XI after the experienced left-arm spinner was ruled out with a knee injury.

The right-arm off-spinner has played only six first-class matches and picked up only 10 wickets. However, he has been backed by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

Bashir has made a promising start to his Test career, removing Indian captain Rohit Sharma cheaply for 14.

“I can’t think of a more remarkable selection in my time watching the England team,” Michael Atherton told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

“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.”

“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.

Atherton believes Bashir has a similar style of bowling as compared to Tom Hartley, who bagged nine wickets on debut at Hyderabad.

“What they like about Bashir is that he is not too dissimilar to Tom Hartley [who took a seven-wicket haul in the first Test]. 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.”

India are 120-2 with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer unbeaten at the crease.