An Oddsworth Opinion
What England are getting for Shoaib Bashir's retainer
A central contract for a spinner who has played two Tests in 12 months, and bowled in only one of them, looks like a retainer without a job attached. The longer record does Shoaib Bashir no favours either.
In men's Tests over the last two years he has taken 39 wickets at a bowling average of 43.36, against 29.29 for all bowlers in men's Tests over the same period. That is the record of a spinner still learning the job.
Long spells, short returns
The pattern was clearest against India in the summer of 2025. He bowled 49 overs for three for 190 in the June Test, then 71 overs in a single Test in July and came away with five for 286.
England kept throwing him the ball and batters kept helping themselves. His economy rate over those two years is 4.03, against 3.51 for Test bowlers generally.
There was one proper haul, nine for 143 against Zimbabwe in May 2025, and it remains his best. One haul against Zimbabwe is a slender peg to hang a retainer on.
3.7 a match in his career
The Test where he never bowled
Both of his Tests in the last year came against New Zealand in June. England won the first by 115 runs without asking him to bowl a ball, then lost the other by 160 runs while he took three for 147 from 38 overs.
Our ratings have England fifth of the ten men's Test teams, with a 65% chance of beating an average side. A side in mid-table has little room for passengers.
- LAustraliaLost by 8 wickets v Australia, 2025-12-04
- LAustraliaLost by 82 runs v Australia, 2025-12-17
- WAustraliaWon by 4 wickets v Australia, 2025-12-26
- LAustraliaLost by 5 wickets v Australia, 2026-01-04
- WNew ZealandWon by 115 runs v New Zealand, 2026-06-04
- LNew ZealandLost by 253 runs v New Zealand, 2026-06-17
- LNew ZealandLost by 160 runs v New Zealand, 2026-06-25
- WPakistanWon by an innings and 103 runs v Pakistan, 2026-08-19
- WPakistanWon by 194 runs v Pakistan, 2026-08-27
- WPakistanWon by 8 wickets v Pakistan, 2026-09-09
A retainer needs a job attached
The case for the contract rests on the 21 Tests England have already invested in him since February 2024, and the 71 wickets at a bowling average of 39.42 that came from them. Perhaps the selectors still see the bowler from the Zimbabwe match.
The numbers say otherwise. Two Tests in 12 months, with the ball in his hand for only one of them, is a thin return on a central contract. Either he bowls in the next Test or the retainer should go to someone who will.