Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Shoaib Bashir’s recent impressive performance in the India Test series is worthy of the tag of the ‘next superstar of English cricket’. Vaughan, an all-rounder himself, hailed the youngster as the next Ravi Ashwin.
Playing only the second Test of his career, 20-year-old Bashir garnered a lot of praise for single-handedly helping England put up a fight with the ball in the 4th Test in Ranchi.
“It’s been a fantastic week for English cricket. 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 Club Prairie Fire’s YouTube channel.
Bashir made an emphatic return in the fourth Test in Ranchi, where he boasted impressive figures of 5/119 and 3/79. His bowling prowess was one of the key highlights of what turned out to be an exciting Test between the two sides.
However, despite his efforts, India ultimately emerged victorious, securing a 3-1 lead in the five-match series, with one Test still to be played.
Regarding the upcoming and highly anticipated Dharamshala Test between India and England, Vaughan believes that the competition will be intense despite India having sealed an unbeatable lead.
“I think it’s going to be a fresh one in Dharamsala, so I expect England to win. They’ve been the better team in the series, as they were in the Ashes. If you go session by session, England have looked a better team. I’m saying looked a better team, but we don’t play series now to win them,” Vaughan added.
The two teams will meet in the final Test in Dharamsala from February 7.
