Shoaib Bashir available for selection at Vizag confirms England coach McCullum
The England management expressed the possibility of Bashir featuring in the second Test as they feel his attributes are suitable for the Indian conditions.
New Delhi: Ben Stokes-led England will take on Rohit Sharma's Indian cricket team in the second Test match in Vizag on February 2. England team coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that uncapped spinner Shoaib Bashir will be available for selection in the second Test. He was missed from the first Test due to visa issues but was now spotted with the team at the Visakhapatnam airport on Tuesday.
The England management expressed the possibility of Bashir featuring in the second Test as they feel his attributes are suitable for the Indian conditions.
“Bash, he was obviously with us during our camp in Abu Dhabi and he was very impressed with his skills. He fitted in seamlessly with the group and he is a man with a huge amount of enthusiasm, albeit at a young age and quite limited in his first-class experience,” McCullum told SENZ Radio, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Like Tom Hartley, he was a guy we looked at and we thought he had the skills that could help us in these circumstances. The visa situation, that's just life, right? Sometimes that happens and everyone did everything they could to resolve the situation. There's just some red tape that you have to cut through sometimes,” he added.
McCullum then revealed the team's reaction after Shoaib committed to the team. The England head coach believes the wicket will play an important role in the selection of the young spinner.
“When he arrived the boys cheered him on immensely and he got to witness something very special as the boys bowled us to a Test victory. He will be in the calculations for the next Test match. If the wickets continue to turn as much as what we saw in the first Test as the series progresses, we won't be afraid to play all the spinners, or a balance of what we have,” McCullum said.
McCullum applauded the team's decision to stick with Tom Hartley in the first Test. The 24-year-old scalped seven wickets in the second innings to guide England to victory.
“When you see guys who you think are good enough, and who you think suit the conditions, they are like horses for courses. You have to back your judgment…no one ever predicts 7 for 60 on debut, or nine for the match, or 60 runs, a run-out and a catch. But sometimes you have to be a little brave with selections. If you like a character and you like their skills and you think they're appropriate for the circumstances, then they're kind of a well-trained guy,” McCullum said.