'When pitch was flat' - Shoaib Bashir hailed as the 'real deal' by Mark Butcher ahead of 3rd ENG vs WI Test

Former England cricketer Mark Butcher praised young spinner Shoaib Bashir for his match-winning bowling performances in the second Test against the West Indies. Mark Butcher stated that Shoaib Bashir has the control and the variety, describing him as "the real deal" for the England national cricket team.

Shoaib Bashir delivered a standout performance in the second Test against the West Indies. The off-spinner took two wickets in the first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second. His brilliant spell triggered a collapse as the tourists went from 61-0 to 143 all out. England secured an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

The West Indies took a first-innings lead of 41 runs as they scored 457 runs in response to England's 416. However, the England team made a strong batting performance with centuries from middle-order batters Harry Brook and Joe Root. The home team set a target of 385 by scoring 425 in their second innings.

Shoaib Bashir Is The Real Deal - Mark Butcher

Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast on Monday, Mark Butcher stated that Shoaib Bashir demonstrated strong control and variety on a flat pitch, despite some early inconsistency.

"I think so, I think he is [the real deal]. I think you could see it even in the first inning, towards the back end, when the ball was flying around a little bit more. He lost a little bit of consistency, dragged a few balls down, but I think there was enough on show," said Butcher.

"When the pitch was flat as anything and and not turning at all, he had the control and the variety in terms of flight and whatever to be a very good bowler," he added.

He Also Has A Brilliant Captain - Mark Butcher

The former England batter said that Shoaib Bashir has a brilliant captain in Ben Stokes. Butcher highlighted that Stokes sets effective fields, which helps Bashir bowl impactful deliveries without being easily scored off.

"He also has a brilliant captain in Ben Stokes to work with. He is very sympathetic, I think, as a captain but also understands how to allow you to bowl good balls that do not get knocked for ones, and batters cannot just sit there and milk you and make you feel like you are not kind of having any effect at all," said Butcher.

Shoaib Bashir made his Test debut for England in challenging conditions in India. The off-spinner took 17 wickets in three matches, including two five-wicket hauls during his maiden series. He was picked over Jack Leach as the first-choice spinner in Tests but did not bowl in the first Test against the West Indies.

The third Test between England and the West Indies will start on Friday, July 26 in Birmingham. England have named an unchanged squad for the last match. The hosts have the chance to complete a clean sweep in this final match.

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