Tom Hartley will make his Test debut against India on Thursday as part of a spin-heavy England team that features just one seamer in Mark Wood. Shoaib Bashir’s visa application was finally approved on Wednesday afternoon but, given it involved a return to the UK, too late for the off-spinner to feature in the series opener.
“We’re glad the situation has now been resolved,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said. “Shoaib Bashir has now received his visa, and is due to travel to join up with the team in India this weekend.” A spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Office said: “The visa has been issued by London. There are rules and regulations governing the issuance of an Indian visa. The same were being applied in this case.” However, the off-spinner misses the first Test.
Speaking a day out from the series opener against India in Hyderabad, and before news of the visa approval came through, Ben Stokes repeated his frustration at Bashir’s inability to travel and revealed his first reaction to the news – though “tongue in cheek” – was for the entire team to remain at their training base in Abu Dhabi until the problem was resolved.
The make-up of the side certainly lends credence to the idea that Bashir, Somerset’s 20-year-old, would have been in the reckoning here, with Stokes and head coach, Brendon McCullum, having inspected the surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium and been convinced it will turn from the outset.
As it is, Lancashire’s Hartley makes it a second frontline left-arm spinner alongside the returning Jack Leach, with wrist-spinner Rehan Ahmed and Joe Root the other slow-bowling options. Bashir, whose Pakistani heritage has forced a return home for a fourth appointment at the Indian High Commission in London, may not arrive until Sunday.
Asked about the reaction to Bashir’s situation back home, including the argument that England should have delayed their arrival in India and the start of the series in solidarity, Stokes replied: “When I first found out the news in Abu Dhabi, I did say we shouldn’t fly until Bash gets his visa but that was a little bit tongue in cheek.
“I know [the series] is a way bigger thing than doing that. That was probably just emotions around the whole thing. I’m pretty devastated that Bash has had to go through this. As a leader, as a captain, when one of your teammates is affected by something like that you do get a bit emotional. There was never a chance that we were ever not going to travel but Bash knows he’s had our full support.”
England (confirmed): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Tom Hartley
India (possible): Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, also offered some thoughts on Bashir’s visa issue, something the Board of Control for Cricket in India has been unable to expedite despite strong links to the Bharatiya Janata Party that governs India. “I feel for him, honestly,” said Sharma. “Unfortunately I don’t sit in the visa office to give you more details on that but hopefully he can make it quickly, enjoy our country and plays some cricket as well. It’s not easy for anyone, it could be one of our guys wanting to come to England and being denied.”
In preferring Wood to Jimmy Anderson, Stokes and McCullum are fully aware that long spells for the quicker but more fragile of the two would risk possible injury. Short, sharp bursts will be the order of the day for the 34-year-old, with spin bowling set to make up the majority of the overs for England in the field. Stokes, who underwent knee surgery last December, confirmed he will not be able to bowl.
“I am pretty clear in my head, how I can best use the bowling attack we have got, and trying to exploit different situations,” said Stokes. “Having multiple options is good for that. I don’t necessarily think it’s bold or brave, it’s just me and Baz [McCullum] looking at the wicket and picking the XI that we think will give us the best chance. It’s very exciting for Tom Hartley to make his Test debut. I’m looking forward to seeing him out there, and captaining him. He’s been very impressive in the buildup.”
Though just 20 matches into his first-class career, and with 40 wickets at 36 runs apiece, Hartley’s 6ft 4in frame and extra pace through the air is viewed as the way forward in India. Comparisons with the wiry Axar Patel, one of the spinners to dominate England during their 3-1 defeat in India in 2021, are very much behind the call.
Elsewhere, there is a return behind the stumps for Ben Foakes, whose glovework is so silken in subcontinental conditions. The absence of Harry Brook due to personal reasons sees Jonny Bairstow move to No 5, while Ollie Pope, who missed the final three Ashes Tests last summer with a dislocated shoulder, is also back at No 3.
