After visa issues, Bashir set for England debut vs. India in 2nd cricket test. Anderson back in team

VISAKHAPATNAM, India — England will debut 20-year-old spinner Shoaib Bashir against India in the second test starting Friday, barely a week after he was stranded at home without a visa to come on the tour.

Bashir, a British Muslim of Pakistani heritage, was the only member of England’s touring party to be significantly delayed over his visa application. That drew comment from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office that it expects British citizens to be treated fairly by India.

Bashir was grounded following a training camp in Abu Dhabi while his teammates transferred to Hyderabad ahead of the first test, which was won in extraordinary fashion by England on Sunday. He had to return to London and eventually received approval, arriving in India last weekend. He is in the team as a replacement for Jack Leach, who has been ruled out because of injury.

England captain Ben Stokes brushed aside concerns that Bashir's preparations for the tour have been affected, saying Thursday: “There’s no issues for me that he’s been away from the group for a period of time, then come back in to make his debut. It’s not like he’s forgotten how to bowl.”

Bashir has taken just 10 first-class wickets in six games at an average of 67, while Leach’s absence means England’s three specialist spinners have three caps between them — two for Rehan Ahmed and one for Tom Hartley.

At the other end of the age spectrum, 41-year-old seam bowler James Anderson — England's record wicket-taker — also came into the side for the match in Visakhapatnam, replacing Mark Wood.

Anderson will be the only pacer in the team as he sets out on his 22nd calendar year of international cricket, and the first since the retirement of long-time fellow fast bowler Stuart Broad.

“It’s huge credit to him and lots of people should look up to Jimmy considering he is where he is at 41," Stokes said. "Bringing in Jimmy’s experience, and the class that he has, is great for us and I think it also goes under the radar how good his record in India is.

“Considering what Jimmy is known for — the swing king and all that — it just proves how good a bowler he is. Taking nothing away from Woody, we just feel like there’s a bit more I can turn to him for."

Already missing star batter Virat Kohli because of personal reasons, India said on Monday the team would be without allrounder Ravindra Jadeja (hamstring) and batter KL Rahul (quadriceps) due to injuries sustained in the first test.

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England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson.