Arthur backs 'national treasure' Bashir to regain form

Bashir was almost unique in being picked for England despite not being first choice at his county until he broke his finger in the Lord’s Test against India last summer.

His record of 68 wickets in 19 Tests is respectable, but when he returned to fitness for Australia he was omitted. An all-pace strikewas preferred for the first Test before England opted for the all-round abilities of Will Jacks in the remainder of the series.

Bashir struggled when he did play in practice matches in Australia – his two wickets cost more than five runs per over in the warm-up before the first Test, and he took 0-115 in a match against Australia A – but Bashir maintains he was pleasedwith his form.

“I wouldn’t say I was not bowling to my best, because I still feel like I was bowling quite nicely,” he said.

“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.”

Bashir looks set make his Derbyshire debut when they begin their County Championship campaign at home to Worcestershire on Friday.

The spot as England’s Test spinner for the summer appears up for grabs with Leach, whose Somerset side host champions Nottinghamshire, Jacks, currently away at the Indian Premier League, and Bashir among a list of candidates that also includes Leicestershire’s Rehan Ahmed and Hampshire’s Liam Dawson among others.

After the Ashes, Bashir travelled to Zimbabwe to work with former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed who was there at the Under-19 World Cup with England Lions.

He also statedhe has been putting in extra hours in the nets before the season in Derby.

“There’s a few things I’ve been working on and I’ve seen some good progress and made some good strides into it,” he said.

“I definitely feel like that period I spent with Mushy has helped me so much.”