Shoaib Bashir could play a key role in the fourth innings of the third Test.
England are concerned about the fitness of their off-spinner Shoaib Bashir after he injured his little finger on his left hand on the third day of the Lord’s Test against India.
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Bashir suffered the injury while bowling to Ravindra Jadeja, who hit a powerful low drive shot straight towards him. Despite technically being a caught and bowled chance, Bashir was hit hard on the hand, and he immediately informed the dressing room that he was injured, and it looked like he had a dislocation in his hand.
The England team initially hoped that Bashir would be available to bowl in the evening session, but he sat out and did not take the field. He bowled on the practice ground ahead of the fourth day’s play, where his fourth and fifth fingers were heavily bandaged, but it is unclear whether he will be fit to bat.
A statement issued by England on the morning of the fourth day said: “Following an injury to his left finger, Shoaib Bashir is being monitored and is expected to bowl in the fourth innings of this Test. A decision on whether he will bat in the third innings will be taken in due course. His participation in the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford will be assessed at the end of the match.”
This is how Shoaib Bashir has performed in this series
Bashir has so far taken nine wickets in the series at an average of 59.44, including the dismissal of KL Rahul at Lord’s on the third day of the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. If he is ruled out of the next Test in Manchester, England’s alternative spin options include Liam Dawson, Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed. England head coach Brendon McCullum has made it clear that Jacob Bethell is being looked at as a backup batsman rather than a potential number 8 option.
Talking about the series, the five-match Test series is tied at 1-1, with England’s opening Test win at Headingley and India’s stunning comeback at Edgbaston. The third Test of the series is currently underway at Lord’s.
