Joe Root heaped praise on England team-mate Shoaib Bashir after the spinner’s mammoth spell in the Fourth Test against India.
The impressive Bashir, 20, took 4-84 from 32 overs on the second day in Ranchi to help reduce the hosts to 219/7.
England were eventually bowled out for 353 in the morning session, with former skipper Root remaining unbeaten on 122 — his 31st Test century.
And the Yorkshireman, 33, was eager to highlight the success of his young colleague at the end of the day’s play.
Root told TNT Sports: “He [Bashir] was brilliant. He is a great young lad to have in the group.
“I didn’t know much about him before the series but he has got great character, a sense of humour and a huge amount of ability and skill.
“It was great to see him keep coming time and again today. He should take a lot of confidence for the rest of this game and going forward as well.”
Bashir was a surprise inclusion in Ben Stokes’ squad for the India tour, with the Somerset bowler having only played six first-class games prior to the call-up.
But he is proving to be a hit in the sub-continent along with 24-year-old spin partner Tom Hartley, who claimed 2-47 from his 19 overs on the second day.
And ex-captain Alastair Cook says the performance from both was the best he has seen from the team’s slow bowlers in a while.
He said: “Today was the best I have seen England spinners bowl for a long time.
“As a batter when you know a bad ball is coming you can sit and wait. Bashir and Hartley, I can only remember four or five balls that were a bit of a pie.
“To do that over a whole period, for guys whose age we keep mentioning, who are learning their trade, was incredibly impressive.”
