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    Bashir can be a better off-spinner
Bashir can be a better off-spinner
Shoaib Bashir. Source: reddit.com

Bashir can be a better off-spinner

Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott has urged young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir to study the bowling techniques of Nathan Lyon, whom he regards as the premier off-spinner in the world of cricket. Since his debut on this year's tour of India, Bashir has taken 29 wickets in seven Tests. However, he struggled in the second innings of the series opener against Sri Lanka at Manchester, finishing wicketless as the batsmen effectively countered his lines and lengths.

"Bashir has talent and room for improvement," Boycott noted. "At tall and with a fluid, high action, he can generate occasional bounce on hard pitches along with a natural loop. However, he seems uncertain about the line he should be bowling, leading him to experiment with various deliveries in search of wickets.

"Nathan Lyon currently stands out as the best off-spinner in cricket, boasting 530 wickets at an average of 30. My suggestion is for Bashir to analyse footage of Lyon's bowling. Lyon approaches the stumps closely, allowing for a slight drift away from the batsman while aiming to pitch outside off stump for the ball to spin back and hit the stumps.

"His straight delivery brings slips into play, and he employs a short square leg for bat-pad nicks. This strategy enables him to deceive right-handers both inside and outside the bat. To excel as a bowler, it’s vital to align line with length. While maintaining a good line is important, being too short or too full can make the ball hittable. Conversely, a great length but a poor line, especially if too straight, can lead to easy runs on the leg side," Boycott elaborated in his column for The Telegraph.

He further emphasised the need for Bashir to develop a reliable stock ball for use in Test cricket, as it is essential in keeping batters subdued. "Bashir must understand that he cannot constantly chase wickets, admirable as that ambition may be, as it can lead to costly overs.”

"At times, when two opposition batsmen settle in on a flat batting pitch, seamers may be given the better end while spinners face the tougher end, being tasked with maintaining pressure by limiting runs. This highlights the necessity of a solid stock ball."

England currently leads the three-match series against Sri Lanka 1-0, with the second Test scheduled at Lord's on August 29, followed by the concluding match at The Oval on September 6.

 

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