Former England fast bowler Steven Finn backed spinner Shoaib Bashir to step up with the ball on the penultimate day of the 4th Test match against India at the JSCA Stadium, Ranchi. Finn reckoned the 4th innings as the real test of the spinner’s ability to deliver under pressure. He also pointed out that England skipper, Ben Stokes would help the spinners to not feel the nerves of bowling in the final innings. .

England’s fate to stay afloat in the series will be in the hands of 2 rookie spinners, Bashir and Tom Hartley, who made their debuts in the ongoing 5-match series against India. After England were skittled out for 145 runs in their 2nd innings, England allowed India to race to a strong start (40 for 0). While the hosts are favourite to chase down 192, England will be hoping the Ranchi pitch, which has seen variable bounce, assists their spinners in the morning session on Monday.

Notably, India have not chased more than 150 successfully in their final innings in a home Test match since March 2013 when they gunned down 158 against Australia in Delhi. India’s only successful fourth innings chase of more than 150 in the last 11 years came in 2021, in the famous Gabba Test against Australia.

Shoaib Bashir was at his best during India’s 1st innings as he ran through their batting order to claim his first-ever 5-wicket haul in Test cricket. The 20-year-old became the 2nd youngest England bowler after Rehan Ahmed to pick a 5-wicket haul in Tests.

WILL BASHIR SPIN IT TO WIN FOR ENGLAND

“He’s (Shoaib Bashir) got the fundamentals to make a good Test-match spinner. He’s got a repeatable action, the height, and these massively long fingers that rip around the ball that you need to get that purchase from it,” Finn told TNT Sports.

“What I’ve really enjoyed about him is his temperament; his ability to handle the pressure coming into a huge Test series knowing that he’s playing as one of two frontline spinners. It just hasn’t looked like it has affected him at all. Tomorrow will be the true test, but from what I’ve seen so far, it does look like he has a bright future.”

The Indian spinners dominated the proceedings after Dhruv Jurel’s heroic 90-run knock. England’s 1st innings lead was reduced to just 46 runs, and they managed to set India a 4th innings target of only 192 runs. Fuelled by Ravichandran Ashwin’s 5-wicket haul, the spinners turned the tide in India’s favour.

Knowing England in their Bazball era, there would be a lot of belief in the camp. Captain Ben Stokes will back his rookie spinners to get the job done.

“There’s no better dressing room [for the spinners] to have that pressure upon you,” Finn said.

“It can be quite overawing sometimes in the fourth innings if you’re there and all eyes are on you to try and produce a bit of magic for England to find the win.”

“Ben Stokes and that calming presence will calm their minds and bodies so that, hopefully, they can see the best of themselves.”