England’s rising star Shoaib Bashir continues to impress, yet remains focused on improving his game after a remarkable performance in Nottingham. The 20-year-old spinner became the youngest English player to take a five-wicket haul in a home Test, leading England to a 241-run victory against West Indies.
Bashir’s outstanding 5/41 in the second innings helped limit West Indies to 143 runs. His achievement surpassed the record held by the recently retired James Anderson. Despite this success, Bashir remains critical of his first innings performance, where he took two wickets for 108 runs at an economy rate of over four.
Reflecting on his game, Bashir said, “I wasn’t too happy with the way I bowled in the first innings. So it was nice to cash in there.” He acknowledged the need to work on consistency and managing his economy while still aiming for wickets.
Bashir’s humility and determination shine through as he looks to improve. “I’m always looking for ways to improve. I was leaking boundaries quite frequently, but I still was trying to take a wicket. There’s a lot to work on, and gaining more experience will help me.”
Grateful for his rapid rise, Bashir remains grounded and focused. “It’s always a learning curve. I’m just grateful for everything that’s been given to me and I’ve just got to keep working hard. All cricket is tough. I’m still learning, still developing.”
Bashir’s height, standing at 6ft 4in, has proven advantageous in England, where extra bounce aids spinners. He hopes this attribute will continue to benefit him, especially in challenging conditions like those in Australia, where England will tour in 2025/26.
For now, Bashir is taking it step by step. “I’m just grateful to be in the position I am. I take things step by step and I think religion helps me with that. I’m always going to stay grounded, stay humble.”
England’s final Test against West Indies begins on 26th July in Birmingham, and all eyes will be on Bashir to see if he can continue his impressive form.