Shoaib Bashir Is The New Ravichandran Ashwin, Claims Former England Captain Michael Vaughan

Shoaib Bashir made his England debut in the ongoing Test series against India.

London: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has compared rookie Shoiab Bashir with India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Vaughan’s comments come in after Bashir, who played jst hi second Test in Ranchi, returned with a match haul of eight wickets including a fifer. However, England lost the game and also the series. Ashwin, for his part, is regarded as one of the best off-spinners in history of Test cricket and recently became the second Indian and ninth overall to amass 500 wickets. Ashwin is set to play his 100th Test match in Dharamsala next week against England.

“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 told on Club Prairie Fire’s YouTube channel.

Bashir was a surprise inclusion in England’s squad for the Test series. After his entry in India was delayed due to visa issues, Bashir made his England debut in the second Test against India in Visakhapatnam where he took only four wickets. He was rested for the third before returning in the fourth encounter.

Interestingly, Bashir is the second-highest wicket-taker for England in the series with 12 wickets from two games. Another spinner Tom Hartley is leading the list with 20 wickets from four games. Interestingly, Hartley also made his debut for England in the ongoing series.

England started the series with a win in Hyderabad in the first Test. But thereafter, they lost three on the trot to lose the series. It was also England’s first series defeat under coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes. However, Vaughan backed England to win the dead rubber in Dharamsala.

“They will go with their best XI. It’s going to be cold in Dharamsala and it will suit England. I expect England to win,” Vaughan said. As far as India are concerned, they have made a few changes in their squad for the fifth Test that begins on March 7.

While Jasprit Bumrah returned to the squad, India will continue to miss the services of KL Rahul, who was ruled out after the first Test. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring Rahul and coordinating with specialists in London for further management of his issue.

Off-spinner Washington Sundar has also been released from the squad as he will join Tamil Nadu – his side – for their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Mumbai, starting on March 2. He will join the India squad after the completion of the domestic fixture for the fifth Test, if need be.