DERBYSHIRE — England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir signed for Derbyshire after Somerset released him and is set to make his County Championship debut in a home match against Worcestershire on Friday. Somerset prefer England teammate Jack Leach as their first-choice spinner.

England's cricket management told Bashir to get more game time at the start of the season. The 21-year-old served as England's frontline spinner for two years leading into the 2025-26 Ashes series but was omitted from the playing XI in all five Ashes Test matches in Australia. England selected an all-pace bowling attack for the first Test, then chose Will Jacks for his all-round abilities in the remaining matches.

In the warm-up match before the first Ashes Test, Bashir took two wickets at a cost of more than five runs per over. In a match against Australia A, he conceded 115 runs without taking a wicket. Across his international career, Bashir has taken 68 wickets in 19 Test matches at an average of 39. He also broke his finger during the Lord's Test against India last summer.

After the Ashes series, Bashir traveled to Zimbabwe to work with former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who was there for the Under-19 World Cup with England Lions. Bashir has since been practicing with extra hours in the nets in Derby ahead of the season.

"I definitely feel like that period I spent with Mushy has helped me so much," Bashir said. He added: "It's just one of those where you're always looking to learn. I'm still so young and I don't take that for granted at all."

Derbyshire coach Mickey Arthur, who previously coached the Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia national cricket teams, said: "I've been very fortunate to see a lot of spinners, some in the subcontinent. I haven't seen a spinner that is as consistent as what Shoaib is at the same age so I just think the growth is going to be massive. It would be lovely if it was just smooth sailing but the journey is going to be up and down and that's how you gather that experience."

"From what I've seen with Shoaib the world is going to be his oyster. He truly is a national treasure," Arthur added.

Candidates for England's Test spinner spot this summer include Leach, Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, and Bashir.