Shoaib Bashir becomes England's 2nd youngest bowler to register 5-wicket haul in Test cricket

England’s 20-year-old right-arm off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has become the 2nd youngest bowler from the country to have registered a 5-wicket haul in a Test match after the youngster registered career-best figures of 5/119 during India’s 1st innings with the bat in the on-going 4th Test at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi. This was Bashir’s first-ever 5-wicket haul in the red-ball format at any level of cricket.

At the time of Shoaib Bashir’s selection in the England team for the 5-match Test series, questions were raised against the team management led by head Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. They were criticized for naming a spinner in the squad for such an important tour who only has experience of playing just 7 First-class matches.

In fact, Bashir had made his FC debut only in July 2023, the same time when the Indian team management handed a senior debut to Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Test side as a part of their transitionary period following a humiliating loss in the World Test Championship final. Jaiswal had smacked 175 on his international red-ball debut in West Indies.

Hard work pays off for Bashir

On day 2 (yesterday) of the 4th Test, Shoaib Bashir bowled an exceptional and tiring amount of 32 overs back-to-back on the wish of Ben Stokes who knew that the youngster would get plenty of assistance from the cracked-up pitch in Ranchi. And so he did. Bashir whose bowling technique and trajectory are coupled with his long fingers, helping in giving the ball plenty of revs, started to infect the Indian middle-order after James Anderson earned the first breakthrough of Rohit Sharma.

Number 3 batter Shubman Gill became Bashir’s first scalp of the day through an LBW which remained in England’s favor even after a DRS. Then it was Rajat Patidar who departed in a similar fashion for another low score of 17 before Ravindra Jadeja became Bashir’s 3rd wicket for 12 runs through a soft dismissal.

Then 10 overs later, Shoaib Bashir led to the departure of the danger man Yashasvi Jaiswal who was approaching towards his 3rd triple digit of the series before dragging on a fuller delivery back to his own stumps. Then in the morning session of day 3, the 20-year-old amassed his maiden five-for with the wicket of debutant Akash Deep.

England would then quickly swipe off the remaining Indian batters for 307 with Tom Hartley denying India’s wicket-keeper batsman Dhruv Jurel from getting to his maiden Test hundred in only his 2nd Test match.

Shoaib Bashir goes above England legends Bill Voce and James Anderson

With his 5/119 from 44 overs, Shoaib Bashir has toppled some legendary England bowlers like Bill Voce and James Anderson to go second in the list of youngest bowlers to claim a 5-wicket haul in the longest format. Above Bashir is his leg-spinner teammate Rehan Ahmed who left the tour due to personal issues.

England’s youngest 5-wicket haul taker in Tests:

1. Rehan Ahmed: 5/48 against Pakistan at 18 years and 128 days
2. Shoaib Bashir: 5/119 against India at 20 years and 135 days
3. Bill Voce: 7/70 against West Indies at 20 years and 182 days
4. James Anderson: 5/73 against Zimbabwe at 20 years and 298 days