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A new season dawns and for Shoaib Bashir it represents a new beginning. Overlooked by England for the entire Ashes despite two years of investment, and having had a nomadic career up to this point, the former Surrey youth player has joined Derbyshire on a two-year deal in the hope of calling somewhere home.
Not that the off-spinner’s goals have changed. In his first media appearance since that winter carrying drinks, the 22-year-old is determined to win back his Test spot. Swapping Somerset for Derbyshire is a case of looking for regular game time, plus the chance to work with a decorated head coach in Mickey Arthur.
“Every time you wear an England shirt it’s the most special thing,” said Bashir. “I was more than happy just observing, watching, learning so much in Australia. I’m only 22 so I’ve still got to take in a lot of information.
“Mickey was on the phone to me as soon as my Somerset contract was up towards the end of last season. I watched Mickey in the 2017 Champions Trophy final on the balcony at the Oval [when his Pakistan team beat India]. It’s obviously very inspiring and I’m very honoured and lucky to be working with him.
“I’ve been around quite a bit now. I’ve been in a team, out a team. So, yeah, I’m quite looking forward to just calling Derby home.”
The appeal of Arthur is clear. As well as being a former head coach of Pakistan, South Africa and Australia, the 57-year-old is one of the game’s great enthusiasts. Picking specialist spinners in early-season conditions is not straightforward but Arthur insists they still have a key role and he clearly rates Bashir highly.
Arthur said: “I think he’s such an exciting talent. For a guy that challenges both edges of the bat, and being only 22, it’s a fantastic package. I knew we could provide the opportunity and I didn’t want to sell that if I didn’t think that we could support him in exactly the right way.
“I’ve been very fortunate to see a lot of spinners in the subcontinent and I haven’t seen one as consistent as what Shoaib is at the same age. The growth is going to be massive. I always say to give players the roots to grow and the wings to fly.
“You try to inculcate the right disciplines and then allow them to ride that journey. It would be lovely if it was smooth sailing but the journey is going to be up and down and that’s how you gather that experience. From what I’ve seen with Shoaib, the world is going to be his oyster. He truly is a national treasure.”
The pair have struck up quite a bond, two cricket tragics who spent the winter swapping WhatsApp messages about games on television. Bashir also made a point of moving near to Derbyshire’s ground, with Arthur saying that every time he looks out of his office window, his new signing is out there doing extra training.
Squeezed out at Taunton due to the presence of Jack Leach and the more all-round Archie Vaughan, Bashir’s previous centrality to England’s plans – the youngest England bowler to 50 Test wickets, no less – has made him something of a curio to date. He has played 19 Test matches, taking 68 wickets at 39, but just 18 in the County Championship. Four of these came during loan spells at Glamorgan and Worcestershire.
There is plenty to like – height, good revolutions – but also plenty to learn. There is also a case to say that despite those enticing attributes, England were over-optimistic as to how quickly they could quickly hot-house him before Australia. That said, he was also a victim of contributing factors.
The first was that broken left hand last summer – his last ball for England remains the winning wicket against India at Lord’s – and then surfaces in Australia that even led the hosts to use Nathan Lyon sparingly before his injury. England’s batting was also crumbling, forcing them to seek lower-order insurance in Will Jacks.
On the back of that tour – one spent being taken down by England’s aggressive batting lineup in the nets and turning out for the Lions – Bashir flew to Zimbabwe to work with Mushtaq Ahmed, the great Pakistan and Sussex spinner.
Bashir said: “I only spent a week with him and I learned a lot about my action, really small tweaks that have helped me in pre-season. I’m just looking forward to working on those because I feel like they will make a massive difference.
“I’m in communication with the England management a lot and definitely feel that they’re obviously keeping an eye on me. I would say I’m very well supported. I’ve got a massive desire to keep playing on for England.
“I’m a strong believer in my religion and my religion teaches me that whatever is written is written by the best of writers, which is God. So I just know that I need to work hard and focus on my game and myself.”
Division Two, starting on Friday at home to Worcestershire, may be a step down for Bashir in one respect. But for a young cricketer in desperate need of regular game time and a sense of familiarity, it also feels like a step in the right direction.
