Former England captain Nasser Hussain recently praised the promising young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir for his impressive performance during the Lord’s Test against Sri Lanka. Despite bowling only seven overs on day two, Bashir managed to catch Hussain’s eye, prompting comparisons to Australian spin legend Nathan Lyon.
As England gears up for next year’s Ashes series in Australia, the team is searching for a spinner who can replicate the impact that Lyon has had on the game. The 20-year-old Bashir has been entrusted with this task, and Hussain believes that he has shown early signs of promise. One particular moment that stood out to Hussain was Bashir’s dismissal of Prabath Jayasuriya, which showcased his skill and potential.
“Shoaib Bashir only bowled seven overs on Friday, but I was really impressed with the quality of his bowling,” Nasser Hussain wrote in his column for the Daily Mail. “When he got Prabath Jayasuriya on strike, he followed three deliveries at 53-54 miles per hour with one that was beautifully flighted. Jayasuriya came down the pitch thinking he had reached the ball, but he was half a yard short. It spun and went through the gate. It’s early days, and Bashir needs to work on his control of line against right-handers, but there are good signs that next year in Australia, he’ll be hard to get down the pitch to.”
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Hussain also highlighted Bashir’s effectiveness against Kamindu Mendis, a seasoned batter known for his proficiency against spin. While some may argue that Bashir was only bowling to tailenders, Hussain emphasized that Mendis is a formidable opponent with multiple Test hundreds to his name. He noted that Bashir’s performance against such a skilled player demonstrates his ability to learn quickly and make adjustments on the fly.
“People will say he was bowling at Sri Lanka’s tail, but that wasn’t the case,” Nasser Hussain continued. “He was bowling to Kamindu Mendis, a player who grew up playing against spin and has multiple hundreds in Test cricket. Bashir has been picked to try and replicate Nathan Lyon, and this was the most drop I’ve seen him get on the ball in his short career. It shows he’s a quick learner.”
While Hussain acknowledged that Bashir still has areas to improve, particularly his control of line against right-handers, he expressed optimism about the young spinner’s future. Hussain also pointed out that Bashir’s ability to make it difficult for batters to use their feet against him will be a significant asset in Australia.
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In conclusion, Hussain praised Bashir and the England team as a whole for their performance at Lord’s, noting that they looked like a side that has played a lot of cricket at the historic ground. He contrasted this with Sri Lanka, who he felt appeared less familiar with the conditions. Hussain’s comments suggest that England has found a promising talent in Bashir, one who could play a key role in their upcoming Ashes campaign.
