England's experienced leg-spinner Adil Rashid has publicly backed young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir to recover strongly from the disappointment of being overlooked throughout the recent Ashes series in Australia.
Winter of Frustration for Promising Spinner
The 22-year-old Bashir was selected as England's primary spin option for the high-profile tour Down Under but endured a frustrating winter, failing to feature in a single Test match. England's management instead opted to utilise all-rounder Will Jacks as their sole spin bowler throughout the contest.
Rashid, who himself played 19 Tests for England before focusing exclusively on white-ball cricket, emphasised that such setbacks are an inherent part of the international game. "You go overseas, you play a Test or Ashes, but you're not picked for a game. That happens so many times," Rashid stated, drawing parallels with other players who have faced similar situations.
Fresh Start at Derbyshire
In a significant career move, Bashir has now joined Derbyshire on a two-year contract after departing Somerset, where his first-team opportunities were notably limited. This transfer represents a crucial chance for the talented bowler to secure regular county cricket and press his claims for future England selection.
Rashid acknowledged the particular challenges facing spin bowlers in the English domestic system, especially during the early months of the season. "I think over the past years, it's always been that thing where sometimes we're pretty unfortunate, I'd say, in England, especially in county cricket, where April, May, June can be more so for the seamers," he explained.
The veteran spinner outlined the mental fortitude required, noting that spinners must accept periods where they bowl fewer overs but continue developing their skills diligently behind the scenes. "As a spinner, then you have to learn to say, 'OK, first month and a half, I might not bowl much but I'm still working behind closed doors, I'm still working on my craft'," Rashid advised.
Rashid's Own Form and Partnership
Meanwhile, Rashid continues to demonstrate his own world-class abilities in the shorter formats. On Friday, he produced a match-winning performance, taking three wickets for just 19 runs to help England secure a T20 victory over Sri Lanka. His mastery and variety of spin completely bamboozled the host nation's batters.
Now aged 37 and with 135 T20 international appearances for England, Rashid remains at the peak of his powers as he aims to help England secure a third World T20 title in the upcoming tournament. He is particularly enjoying his bowling partnership with left-arm spinner Liam Dawson.
"It's been really good," Rashid said of their collaboration. "We complement each other fairly well and we talk to each other quite a bit as well, what's required... because we're spinners and also we're good friends as well, so we've got that relationship where we can discuss things."
This supportive dynamic, where the two experienced campaigners exchange insights and observations about pitch conditions, has proven highly effective for the England setup.
Rashid's message to Bashir is ultimately one of resilience and patience. "I'm sure he'll go back and keep working hard and be ready for the next one," he concluded, expressing confidence that the young spinner will use this experience as motivation for future success with both Derbyshire and the national team.
