"Maybe he copied me" - Shoaib Bashir makes sarcastic remark after pulling off Cole Palmer-like celebration in ENG vs WI 2nd Test
England spinner Shoaib Bashir sarcastically remarked that Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer might've copied his celebration after pulling off the footballer's signature move on day four of the 2nd Test against the West Indies in Nottingham. The 20-year-old said that he doesn't watch football enough to properly know Palmer.
The Surrey-born cricketer pulled off the 'cold' celebration, briefly rubbing his arms in Palmer's style after getting Alick Athanaze's wicket. The youngster got one to dip, drift, and turn as the ball drew the edge of the left-hander's bat and Joe Root took the catch.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Bashir recalled how his teammates were taking English footballer Cole Palmer's name after his celebration and the youngster was clueless. As quoted by The Telegraph, he stated:
"Maybe he copied me. That’s a natural celebration, I don’t really watch football that much! I did the celebration and the guys were saying ‘there’s Cole Palmer’. And I don’t really watch football that much!"
The off-spinner had a memorable game, taking two wickets in the first innings, but hit top gear in the second. With the Windies chasing 385 for the win, his five-wicket haul sparked a collapse as the tourists went from 61-0 to 143 all out.
"He was over the moon for me" - Shoaib Bashir on Jack Leach
Bashir also said that he spoke to England veteran Jack Leach before the Test and had a different feeling playing in his home ground. The youngster also recalled having learnt a lot from Leach. He added:
"We had a chat and he was over the moon for me. He just told me to enjoy it – a home crowd. It doesn’t get better than that. Obviously, I experienced the Barmy Army in India and that was special and even at the start of the day here, Jerusalem playing in the background, it’s just so special to make a home debut. He’s played a lot more cricket than me and he’s a class spinner. I learned a lot off him."
England have selected an unchanged squad for the 3rd and final Test, beginning on July 26 in Birmingham.