Shoaib: It feels incredible after all I’ve been through
ENGLAND spinner Shoaib Bashir was delighted with his first day of Test cricket after taking the key wicket of India captain Rohit Sharma yesterday.
‘It’s been a very special day,’ the 20-year-old rookie said. ‘To get Rohit Sharma as my first wicket was incredible.
‘He’s one of the best in the world and a great player of spin as well. I just let it all out after that. It’s just the passion. I love playing cricket and it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. And all I’ve been through over the past two or three years has made it even more special.’
Bashir relaunched his career with Somerset last summer via club cricket after being rejected by his native Surrey.
He also missed the first Test in Hyderabad due to the infamous visa shambles. Bashir, though, insisted he never doubted he would eventually be allowed into India despite being forced to dash home before he could make his Test debut. Bashir finished day one with two for 100 after 28 impressive overs as India reached 336 for six by the close.
‘I had no doubts at all I’d get here,’ said Bashir. ‘I always knew I’d get the visa. It was a bit of a hassle but I’m here now and I got to make my debut. That’s all that matters, really.
‘I was always pretty chilled about it because I always knew it was going to get sorted. Thanks to the ECB and BCCI for sorting it out.’
Bashir could hardly believe he had taken the wicket of Sharma, one of the greats of the game, to claim his first scalp as England’s inexperienced spin attack, supplemented by the evergreen Jimmy Anderson, stuck gamely to their task on the flattest of pitches.