"Got Right Pace For This Surface": India Great Lauds England Spinner Shoaib Bashir

Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble lauded England spinner Shoaib Bashir for his spell during the fourth Test against India, saying that the young spinner has got the right pace for the Ranchi surface and credited the team management for selecting him. Bashir snapped four wickets in his spell of 32 overs while conceding 83 runs, taking wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar and Ravindra Jadeja. Later speaking on JioCinema, Kumble said, "Credit to England management for taking a punt on Bashir. What I understand is that Alastair Cook was batting against Bashir and some 20 balls that Ben Stokes saw, prompted him to get him on tour to India. He's been very impressive. The kind of lines he bowled as an off-spinner, he has kept it outside of the right-hander's eye-line."

"Very few off-spinners bowl from over the stumps to right-handers these days but he has been very consistent. He has got the pace right on this surface. And look at that length, it's fantastic to see that almost 90 per cent is in the productive area where the oddball will jump. The beehive is perfect for an off-spinner," he added.

Bashir has been great in two Tests he has played so far, taking eight wickets at an average of 35 and an economy rate of 3.29. His best bowling spell is 4/84.

Coming to the match, England scored 353 runs in their first innings after electing to bat. India had reduced England to 112/5, but Joe Root (122* in 274 balls, with 10 fours) roared back to form with 31st Test century. Also, handy contributions came through from wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes (47 in 126 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and Ollie Robinson (58 in 96 balls, with nine fours and a six), with both stitching century stands with Root.

Ravindra