Brendon McCullum doesn’t rule out the chances of England playing an all-spin attack 

Brendon McCullum claims Shoaib Bashir is due a Test debut in the series against India.

Brendon McCullum doesn’t rule out the chances of England playing an all-spin attack 

Brendon McCullum isn't afraid to play four spinners for a Test match (Image via ESPN)

England beat India in the first Test of their tour, winning by 28 runs. Despite having a deficit of 190 runs in the first innings, they managed to recover it and bowl India out in the final innings. With their spinners picking up 18 wickets in the first game, England coach Brendon McCullum doesn’t rule out the possibility of playing an all-spin attack in the series. 

England were without the services of Shoaib Bashir in the first Test, who couldn’t enter India due to complications with his visa. Now that he’s back, McCullum has admitted that the 20-year-old could make his debut in the 2nd Test. 

YouTube video
He (Shoaib Bashir) comes into calculations for the next Test match. If the wickets continue to spin as much as what we saw in the first Test as the series goes on, look, we won't be afraid to play all spinners, or a balance of what we've got.
Brendon McCullum to SEN Sports

Bashir has played 6 first-class matches, with all of them coming in the past six months. In those six games, he’s managed only 10 wickets, but McCullum claims his skillset was the reason he was selected. The same was for Tom Hartley, who has played only 21 first-class matches. 

Brendon McCullum hates the term “Bazball” 

When England began their new chapter with Brendon McCullum, their unique playstyle was given the name “Bazball”. It is named after McCullum, who was fondly called Baz by teammates during his playing days. It even was Collins’ Dictionaries top 10 word of the year.  

Ben Stokes Brendon McCullum
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum are the pioneers of Bazball cricket (Image via ESPN)

Despite the popularity of the term and the success of it, McCullum hates the term. Talking to JioCinema before the start of the first Test, Ben Stokes told the broadcasters:

We don’t necessarily like it, Baz (coach Brendon McCullum) hates it! Whenever that word pops up, we just try to say that’s how England plays Test cricket.
Ben Stokes said

England and India will now face off on the 2nd of February in Vizag. England could be without Jack Leach, who had injured himself during the first Test, so Shoaib Bashir could make his debut. India are also expecting a debutant, as KL Rahul was ruled out. Either Sarfaraz Khan or Rajat Patidar will be making their Test debuts. 

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