"We've unearthed a new superstar" - Michael Vaughan compares Shoaib Bashir with Ravichandran Ashwin

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan expressed his admiration for young spinner Shoaib Bashir’s bowling performance in the fourth Test. Michael Vaughan described Shoaib Bashir as a world-class superstar in English cricket, likening him to Ravichandran Ashwin.

Shoaib Bashir made his Test debut during the second Test of the five-match series against India in Visakhapatnam, where the off-spinner picked up four wickets. However, the 20-year-old spinner was dropped from the playing XI for the third red-ball fixture in Rajkot.

Bashir returned to the team for the fourth Test match against India in Ranchi. He excelled with the ball in a must-win encounter, bagging eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in India’s first innings. His efforts went in vain as England suffered a five-wicket loss.

We’re Celebrating A New Superstar In English Cricket – Michael Vaughan

Speaking on Club Prairie Fire’s YouTube channel, Michael Vaughan expressed his delight over Shoaib Bashir’s stellar performance. Vaughan emphasized the significance of unearthing talents like Bashir for the English cricket team’s future success.

“It’s been a fantastic week for English cricket. One of the great weeks, celebrating another world-class superstar that we’ve unearthed, Shoaib Bashir. That’s what we’re celebrating. Second Test match, eight wickets, he’s the new Ravi Ashwin, and we’ve unearthed him. So, we’re celebrating a new superstar in English cricket,” Vaughan said.

The home team failed to defend a target of 192 runs in the final innings of the previous match. England’s bowlers managed to take five Indian wickets for 120 runs. Shubman Gill (55) and Dhruv Jurel (39) helped the Indian team secure the match and series victory.

England Have Looked A Better Team – Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan predicted that England would win the upcoming fifth and final Test of the series against India. Vaughan asserted that England has performed better throughout the series, despite losing it by a 1-3 margin.

“I think it’s going to be a fresh one in Dharamsala, so I expect England to win. They’ve been the better team in the series, as they were in the Ashes. If you go session by session, England have looked a better team. I’m saying looked a better team, but we don’t play series now to win them. I think people have got to understand that the game of cricket has changed in the UK. We don’t play to win them, we play to just bring entertainment, bring joy, and unearth new talent.”

The fifth and final Test match between India and England is scheduled to take place at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala from March 7 to 11. The pitch conditions in the upcoming Test match might favor the English fast bowlers.

Speedster Gus Atkinson might replace pacer Ollie Robinson in the lineup. Robinson remained without a wicket in India’s first innings of the Ranchi Test and did not bowl in the fourth innings. However, he contributed a significant 58 runs in England’s first innings.

Also read: “Can’t just play in one gear” – Michael Vaughan advises England to abandon Bazball in 5th Test