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England coach Brendon McCullum has disclosed that the coaching staff is considering the option of deploying an all-spin bowling lineup in the upcoming matches. McCullum suggested that the inclusion of young spinner Shoaib Bashir could be a significant asset for the team in India.

Under the leadership of Ben Stokes, the England team secured a 28-run win in the initial Test match against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Despite giving away a considerable 190-run lead to the opposition in the first innings, the visiting team emerged triumphant.

Brendon McCullum commended Shoaib Bashir for his skills and adaptability to thrive in Indian conditions, despite having limited experience in first-class cricket. McCullum hinted at potential lineup changes based on the pitch conditions in the upcoming Test matches in the ongoing series.

“Bashir was with us in our camp in Abu Dhabi. He seamlessly integrated into the group, impressing everyone with his skillset. Despite his youth and limited first-class exposure, we considered him, much like Tom Hartley, as someone whose abilities could benefit us in Indian conditions,” said McCullum.

“He’s in contention for the next Test match. If the wickets continue to offer significant spin, as seen in the first Test, we won’t hesitate to field an all-spin attack or the combination we used in Hyderabad. He’s a fantastic young player with an infectious personality,” he added.

Shoaib Bashir was part of England’s pre-series training camp in Abu Dhabi but faced visa issues that prevented him from joining the team in India initially. Consequently, he missed the first match and had to travel to the United Kingdom. The 20-year-old recently joined the squad in Hyderabad and is expected to be considered for selection in the second match at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, beginning on Friday, February 2.

Brendon McCullum expressed contentment with the team’s victory in the series opener, attributing it to skipper Ben Stokes’ unwavering belief and the unity of the team, which collectively turned the tide in challenging conditions.

“It’s a great feeling. We were trailing for a significant part of the game. However, our belief never wavered. We have a captain with incredible belief who binds the team together, and the unit shares the conviction that they can overcome challenging conditions,” McCullum remarked.

England initially posted 246 runs in their first innings after choosing to bat. Subsequently, they staged a strong comeback, amassing 420 runs in 102.1 overs during the second innings. In the final innings, they bowled out the Rohit Sharma-led side for 202 runs, securing victory.