Islamabad
\nSomerset\u2019s Shoaib Bashir is among three uncapped players in England\u2019s Test squad to India, starting from January 25, 2024
\nShoaib, a 20-year-old off-spinner with only six first-class games behind him, is one of four spinners in the squad.
\nWith career-best first-class figures of 3 for 67, his selection might be seen as both a reflection of his outstanding potential and the relative lack of options for the position in English cricket at present.
\nHartley and Atkinson have both played limited-overs cricket for England in recent times while the Lancashire spinner and Shoaib were both part of the England Lions squad that trained in the United Arab Emirates last month.
\nJack Leach also returns having missed the Ashes with a stress fracture of the back. Nineten-year-old Rehan Ahmed, with one match behind him, is the second most experienced Test spinner in the squad having taken a five-for on debut in Pakistan a year ago.
\nShoaib (10), Rehan (24) and Hartley (40) have only 74 first-class wickets between them. In the County Championship alone, they have just six more between them than India\u2019s Ravichandran Ashwin (67 compared to 61).
\nWicketkeeper Ben Foakes has been recalled after the Surrey player missed out to Jonny Bairstow in the Ashes but, with many overs of spin likely to be bowled in India, Foakes\u2019 superior ability to stand up to the stumps is likely to see him return.
\nOllie Robinson makes a return, too. In what might be considered a make-or-break tour for him, Robinson may be required to bowl long spells in trying conditions. Frustrations over his fitness have caused some issues with the England management.
\nEngland squad: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood
\nIndia v England men\u2019s Test fixtures 2024
\nJanuary 25-29: 1st Test (Hyderabad)
\nFebruary 2-6: 2nd Test (Vizag)
\nFebruary 15-19: 3rd Test (Rajkot)
\nFebruary 23-27: 4th Test (Ranchi)
\nMarch 7-11: 5th Test (Dharamsala)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad Somerset\u2019s Shoaib Bashir is among three uncapped players in England\u2019s Test squad to India, starting from January 25, 2024 Shoaib, a 20-year-old off-spinner with only six first-class games behind him, is one of four spinners in the squad. With career-best first-class figures of 3 for 67, his selection might be seen as both a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-373826","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n