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England’s rising spin sensation, Shoaib Bashir, etched his name into the annals of cricket history on Friday, becoming the youngest Englishman to claim 50 Test wickets.
Shoaib Bashir breaks Steven Finn’s England record
The right-arm off-spinner achieved this significant milestone during the ongoing one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, surpassing a long-standing national record previously held by paceman Steven Finn.
Bashir, who is 21 years and 222 days old, reached the 50-wicket mark in his 16th Test match. This feat sees him eclipse Finn’s record, who achieved his 50th wicket at 22 years and 62 days in 2011.
The historic wicket for Bashir came during Zimbabwe’s first innings when he dismissed visiting captain Craig Ervine for 42 runs. Delivering a perfectly flighted ball on middle and leg stump, Bashir induced an outside edge that was sharply caught by Harry Brook at first slip, igniting enthusiastic celebrations within the England camp. He quickly followed up with another crucial wicket, further consolidating England’s dominant position after their formidable first-innings total.
Since making his Test debut in February 2024 against India, Bashir has rapidly cemented his place as a vital component of England’s bowling attack. His 50 wickets have been scalped in just 26 innings, maintaining a bowling average of 39.92. Impressively, he already boasts three five-wicket hauls in his nascent Test career.
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Harbhajan Singh holds the record for India
For India, Harbhajan Singh holds the record as the youngest spinner to reach 50 Test wickets. The ‘Turbanator’ achieved this milestone at a tender age of just 20 years and 258 days on March 18, 2001. Harbhajan reached this landmark during a memorable series against Australia, where he quickly established himself as a pivotal figure in the Indian bowling attack. Other notable young Indian spinners who reached the 50-wicket mark early in their careers include Ravi Shastri (21 years, 131 days), Maninder Singh (21 years, 197 days) and Narendra Hirwani (21 years, 281 days).
Youngest spinners to claim 50 wickets in Test cricket
Player | Team | Age | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Daniel Vettori | New Zealand | 19y 134d | June 10, 1998 |
Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Bangladesh | 20y 252d | July 4, 2018 |
Harbhajan Singh | India | 20y 258d | March 18, 2001 |
Saqlain Mushtaq | Pakistan | 20y 342d | December 6, 1997 |
Ravi Shastri | India | 21y 131d | October 5, 1983 |
Paul Adams | South Africa | 21y 135d | June 4, 1998 |
Maninder Singh | India | 21y 197d | December 27, 1986 |
Shoaib Bashir | England | 21y 221d | May 22, 2025 |
Alf Valentine | West Indies | 21y 247d | December 31, 1951 |
Narendra Hirwani | India | 21y 281d | July 26, 1990 |
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