Fans have criticised Shoaib Bashir after India beat England to level the five-match series. Meanwhile, English fans believe Jack Leach or Liam Dawson should play ahead of Bashir.
Bashir has only played ten first-class games before transitioning to the international level.
Criticism Mounts on Shoaib Bashir After Edgbaston Display
England suffered a 336-run defeat on Sunday as India levelled the series ahead of the third test at Lord’s. Whilst England batters are to blame for their rash shot selection, the bowlers struggled equally, with India piling on the runs courtesy of Shubman Gill. Shoaib Bashir, who took five wickets in the game, struggled for any fluency and control.
Shoaib Bashir has had a tough run in the side, with fans calling for him to be replaced. Statistically, Bashir has the worst average of any England spinner who has played test cricket. As well as this, Shoaib Bashir was loaned out by his county, Somerset, as they couldn’t guarantee him any game time ahead of Jack Leach.
Despite this, Ben Stokes has persisted with the young spinner, describing him as one for the future. Fans are less convinced, with many wanting Bashir to be dropped. With England set to tour Australia for the Ashes, England must have a good spinner who can hold down an end. This is crucial, as a quality spinner at one end allows the pace bowlers to recover between spells and wait until day 4/5 to have an impact with the ball.
Could there be a recall for Liam Dawson or Jack Leach?
Whilst Stokes is set to continue his defence of Shoaib Bashir, others want him to be dropped ahead of the Lord’s Test match. There are two obvious replacements which could see the return of Jack Leach or Liam Dawson.
On one hand, Jack Leach was England’s spinner before being dropped for Shoaib Bashir. Despite being dropped, Leach has performed well in this year’s county championship. The Somerset man has picked up 32 wickets at an average of 22 and is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Division One.
Meanwhile, another option which could be considered is Liam Dawson. The Hampshire captain has taken 22 wickets as opposed to Leach’s 32. However, Dawson offers more with the bat and is a genuine all-rounder, making him a handy lower-order batting option. However, despite being 35, Dawson has consistently been overlooked, with his last England test appearance dating back to 2017.
Should England stick with Shoaib Bashir or look at other options ahead of the Ashes in Australia?
