by England off‑spinner Shoaib Bashir has been officially ruled out of the remainder of the five‑match Test series against India after fracturing his left little finger during the thrilling third Test at Lord’s. Despite the injury, he courageously returned to bowl and claimed the match‑winning wicket of Mohammed Siraj, which secured England’s dramatic 22‑run victory and a 2–1 lead in the series .
Key details:
- Bashir, aged 21, injured his non‑bowling hand on Day 3 and underwent scans confirming a fracture; surgery is scheduled for later this week .
- England have recalled seasoned spinner Liam Dawson (age 35), marking his return to Test cricket after eight years, to fill the spin slot for the upcoming fourth Test at Old Trafford, starting July 23 .
🔎 What This Means for England:
- Bashir’s absence is a significant blow to England’s spin resources, having taken 10 wickets so far in the series.
- Dawson brings valuable experience—over 370 first‑class wickets—and is expected to shore up England’s spin options for the remaining two matches .
