Ben Stokes singled out Shoaib Bashir for special praise following England’s dramatic 22-run win in the third Test against India, applauding the youngster’s grit and determination to make a difference while injured.
The 21-year-old spinner suffered a broken little finger while bowling to Ravindra Jadeja on day three, but went on to take the decisive wicket 48 hours later as England finally ended India’s resistance in front of a nervy Lord’s crowd.
Stokes turned to Bashir after the tea break on a tense final day and there were jubilant scenes as Mohammed Siraj defended a turning ball into the ground and back into his own stumps, leaving Jadeja stuck on 61 not out with no partners remaining.
It showed remarkable fighting spirit from Bashir given the Somerset man was clearly in some discomfort and there had been serious doubts as to whether he would be able to bowl at all after being struck with some force on his non-bowling hand by Jadeja.
Bashir’s heroics at the death mean Brendon McCullum’s men take a 2-1 series lead into the fourth and penultimate Test match, starting at Old Trafford on July 23.
‘I just had this gut feeling that something was going to happen,’ England captain Stokes told Sky Sports shortly after Bashir dismissed Siraj.
‘Jof’s [Archer] first time back and the day that it was, sometimes your gut works I guess.
While there has been some concern surrounding Stokes’ fitness after the England skipper sustained a groin problem during the hosts’ first innings at Lord’s.
But when asked for an update on his injury, Stokes instead pointed to the spirit Bashir displayed in managing to play through the pain with a broken finger.
Stokes said: ‘I thought I’d taken myself to some pretty dark places before, but today was… but look, bowling in Test matches for your country, if that doesn’t get you up, if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what does.
‘Shoaib Bashir, broken hand, going out there and taking on the responsibility with the bat… we thought a few runs could become crucial at the end.
‘Obviously, it was looking like they were going to be that way and coming on and taking that last wicket… it was written in the stars.
‘What an absolute warrior to come out here and do that for his team.’
In what was his first Test back in more than four years, Archer finished the match with five wickets to his name, while bowling with serious pace in spells.
On Archer’s return, Stokes said: ‘It’s been awesome to have him back out there.
‘Every time it gets announced that he’s coming back out on the tanoy, you just hear the whole crowd erupt.
‘When he turns it on, starts running in and getting it up to that speed, the feeling in the game just changes.
‘What an amazing effort from him to get through those overs. First time back out, it’s been a very, very tough week for him, no doubt.
‘But he got some crucial wickets for us and it’s absolutely great to have him back.’
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