ENG Playing XI announced for India vs England 2nd Test. Check Details

Shoaib Bashir is set to make his international debut for England in the second Test against India, replacing the injured spinner Jack Leach.

ENG Playing XI announced for India vs England 2nd Test

Bashir, a fellow Somerset spinner, was called up to the squad after Jack Leach was ruled out due to injury, presenting the 20-year-old with a golden opportunity to showcase his skills on the international stage.

Record wicket-taker James Anderson has also been included in the side for the crucial second Test in Visakhapatnam, taking the place of Mark Wood as England aims to build on their impressive victory in Hyderabad.

1. Zak Crawley
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Jonny Bairstow
6. Ben Stokes
7. Ben Foakes
8. Rehan Ahmed
9. Tom Hartley
10. Shoaib Bashir
11. Jimmy Anderson

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Bashir’s journey to the England squad was not without drama, as visa issues forced him to travel extensively between Abu Dhabi, London, and Hyderabad, accumulating 10,000 unwanted air miles. However, the young spinner arrived just in time to witness the final day of England’s triumph in the first Test.

Despite his limited experience, having taken just 10 first-class wickets in six games at an average of 67, Bashir’s inclusion is a testament to the faith placed in him by the England team management. With Leach sidelined, England’s three specialist spinners now collectively hold only three caps, with two for Rehan Ahmed and one for Tom Hartley.

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England captain Ben Stokes had first highlighted the potential of Shoaib Bashir six months ago, expressing his interest after watching a video montage of Bashir bowling to Sir Alastair Cook during his debut for Somerset.

“To be perfectly honest, our training camp in Abu Dhabi was the first real live look I got at ‘Bash’,” Stokes admitted. “The first time I saw him was on Twitter. I think the County Championship put a little clip together of him bowling against Sir Alastair. I just saw something. With the height he bowled from, it was very obvious that he put a lot of action, a lot of revolutions, on the ball.”

As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the second Test in Visakhapatnam, all eyes will be on Shoaib Bashir as he steps onto the international stage for the first time, aiming to make a significant impact for England.