"When you go to Australia and get to the Gabba, the Aussies are coming for you" - Stuart Broad warns Shoaib Bashir ahead of Ashes series
Former England new-ball bowler Stuart Broad believes the selectors have picked Shoaib Bashir keeping one eye on the next year's Ashes series in Australia. The 38-year-old warned the off-spinner that he will have to be prepared for Australia coming hard at him at a venue like The Gabba in Brisbane.
The 20-year-old made his debut during the tour of India earlier this year and had already shown plenty of promise, notably, taking a fifer in Ranchi. The youngster showcased his bag of tricks against the West Indies in the fourth innings at Trent Bridge when he picked a fifer to spark a collapse on a placid deck.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Broad reflected that the home summer wouldn't quite test Bashir but reckons the series in Pakistan should be interesting. He said:
"I think he's been picked with half an eye on the Ashes and I don't think England are making any excuses that they're looking a bit more forward than they have done in the past.
"Bashir is probably not going to be tested huge amounts this summer in these conditions but it will be really interesting to see him play against Pakistan in Pakistan where they might play him a bit more aggressively on different surfaces."
The 167-Test veteran elaborated that gaining all the experience in home conditions should keep him in good stead for the Australia tour. He added:
"When you go to Australia and get to the Gabba, the Aussies are coming for you, they're going to attack you and try to hit you out of the attack. That's where playing now, building experience and playing in Test-match cricket and different conditions around the world sets you up for those huge, high-pressure moments."
England have had a hard time in Australia in their past three tours, losing by scorelines of 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0. They haven't held the urn since 2015.
"I thought he was just a wobble-seam bowler" - Stuart Broad impressed with Gus Atkinson
Broad went on to claim debutant Gus Atkinson displayed all the required attributes to be a regular starter in the Test XI in the series against the West Indie. He said:
"Atkinson settled in really well and a little bit like Bashir, I'm not bothered how many wickets he's got in this series and there is no doubt sterner tests are coming his way, but it's the attributes he's shown. I thought he was just a wobble-seam bowler, but throughout the series, he's shown he can swing the ball away."
"He reversed it just a little bit towards the end at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, and he's shown the attributes you want from a Test match-type bowler."
England's next assignment is a Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 21.