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'Bash Showed What He Could Do': Ben Stokes Lauds Shoaib Bashir's Match-Winning Performance

Ben Stokes hails  Shoaib Bashir [X.com]Ben Stokes hails  Shoaib Bashir [X.com]

England captain Ben Stokes has lauded Shoaib Bashir for his outstanding performance that clinched the series win against West Indies at Trent Bridge.

The 20-year-old off-spinner delivered a match-winning spell, claiming 5 for 41 in the second innings and helping bowl out the visitors for just 143 runs.

This performance made Bashir the youngest England bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul in a home Test and the first spinner to do so at Trent Bridge since 2006.

Bash showed what he could do in India: Ben Stokes

Stokes was particularly impressed with Bashir’s ability to adapt to a pitch that offered little assistance to spin. Following the match, the English all-rounder said,

“Bash showed what he could do in India with conditions in his favour, but the pitch this week didn’t really offer much for spin, and he has taken seven wickets in the match. The ability he had to be able to change his pace, change his line, and manipulate how he wanted the ball to react out of the surface was top-class. I don’t want to sound like it’s an ‘I told you so’ kind of thing, but it sort of is.” 

Stokes’s decision to bring Bashir into the England squad, despite his limited County cricket experience, has proven astute. 

Stokes was reportedly impressed after watching Bashir bowl against Alastair Cook in County cricket and advocated for his inclusion in the squad for the series against India. Bashir responded with 17 wickets in three Tests at an average of 33.35, including two five-wicket hauls.

England will now prepare for the final Test of the series, starting at Edgbaston on July 26.