Derbyshire coach Mickey Arthur says that England bowler Shoaib Bashir is the most consistent spinner he has seen at his age.
Arthur is one of the most experienced coaches in world cricket, having led South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at various stages over the last two decades.
During that time, Arthur has seen a number of bowlers develop their skills both in the international game and in franchise cricket.
Now at Derbyshire, Arthur believes that 22-year-old Bashir tops the list when it comes to his relentless control at such a young age.
"I’ve been very fortunate to see a lot of spinners, including some in the sub-continent, but I haven’t seen a spinner as consistent as what Shoaib is at the same age," said Arthur.
"It's very interesting because spinners for me only develop at 28.
"That is the age when they are very confident in their roles and very confident in their ability. It does take a spinner time to develop which is why I’m so excited with what I see from a 22 year old guy.
"The growth is going to be massive. 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 natural treasure."
After heading into the 2025/26 Ashes as England's primary spin option, Bashir ended up carrying the drinks for all five Tests as England suffered a disappointing 4-1 series defeat.
Bashir is desperate to regain his place in the England team and he now has the opportunity to play regular cricket for Derbyshire after struggling for game time at Somerset last season.
Arthur believes Bashir has the potential to be one of the best spinners in the game and is optimistic about his chances of thriving for both the county and his country.
"I think he’s so exciting, he’s such an exciting talent.
"He’s a guy that challenges both edges. He gets a lot of bounce and being only 22, it’s a fantastic package. I’ve been incredibly impressed with him and it’s a skillset that we needed here.
"I knew that we could provide Shoaib with the opportunity but I didn’t want to sell that if I didn’t believe that we could support him in exactly the right way.
"I believe that we've got a really good coaching structure here that can support Shoaib and develop his career and give him that opportunity to perform."
