Jack Leach, an England spinner, missed the second India Test due to a knee ailment

In New Delhi, England’s Jack Leach will be absent from the upcoming second Test against India due to injury, creating an opportunity for his Somerset teammate, Shoaib Bashir, to potentially make his debut on the international stage. In the initial Test, the 32-year-old left-arm spinner, Leach, had limited involvement in England’s impressive 28-run triumph, attributed to an issue with his left knee.

“He has been ruled out of the second Test. Unfortunately, the impact he endured resulted in a haematoma,” conveyed Captain Ben Stokes to the traveling British media on Wednesday. “It’s a considerable setback for us and for him. We are monitoring it daily, but the medical team is overseeing the situation, and we hope it’s not a serious issue that keeps him sidelined for an extended period.”

Shoaib Bashir faced a visa complication last week, necessitating his return to London for resolution. Despite this hindrance, he managed to return in time to witness the final day of England’s remarkable victory in the initial match of the five-Test series. The 20-year-old off-spinner has secured only 10 first-class wickets, maintaining an average of 67. However, considering the impressive debut of rookie left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, who claimed a seven-wicket haul in India’s unsuccessful run chase last week, England may once again overlook the relative lack of experience.

“To be frank, our training camp in Abu Dhabi was my first live observation of Bash,” remarked Stokes. “The initial time I came across him was on Twitter. The County Championship shared a clip of him bowling against Sir Alastair Cook. I noticed something significant. Given the height from which he bowled, it was evident that he imparted a substantial amount of action and revolutions on the ball.”