SAM DALLING AT CHELMSFORD: The 19-year-old offspinner, a replacement amid Jack Leach's absence, returned 29 wicketless overs but showed great skill to trouble the former England captain
Chelmsford (first day of four): Essex 360-4, Somerset
If there was any trepidation as Shoaib Bashir stood, ball in hand, Sir Alastair Cook at the other end, it did not show. Twenty-nine wicketless overs might not sound like an outstanding return, particularly on a day of batting dominance from Essex, led by a pair of fine - if contrastingly paced - centuries for Cook and Matt Critchley, but Bashir's first-class debut deserves attention.
First, there is the occasion itself. After two short-form Somerset outings last week, this nod surpasses those. With Jack Leach absent opportunity beckoned.
Jason Kerr et. al have had time to plan for this moment and one suspects Bashir has been their man all along. Having been selected ahead of Roelof van der Merwe and Lewis Goldsworthy, this Sunday (June 11) shall glisten in his mind forever, a moment that can never be ripped from him.
Then comes Bashir’s bowling, the quality of which belied the 89 runs conceded. A maiden first up and three all told in an opening nine-over spell that cost a measly 20 runs. Twice, Bashir, from around the wicket, beat Cook, one of England's greatest players of spin, a man who averaged 51.8 across 24 Tests in India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, on the outside
Clips of both deliveries - the second of which saw the knight of the realm lose his balance – instantly flooded the cricketing interweb. Cook managed just 20 watchful runs from 70 Bashir deliveries, his solitary four coming as the bowler, understandably, tired.
Cook went to first-class century No.74 on day one (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
"Quite a special feeling," Bashir said afterwards of Cook being his first professional red-ball opponent. "His record is unbelievable. The patience he showed…it’s something else. I’m very privileged to be bowling at him."
Such was Tom Abell's trust in Bashir, that the second new ball was just seven overs old when it was chucked to him. Why? Bashir's variety in pace, his extra height-extracted bounce, and the fact that, according to the man himself, the new-ish nut turned more.
Bashir was with Surrey from ages nine to 17, spent a little time with Middlesex, and then played for Berkshire. And it was for them that 5 for 26 against Somerset's Under-18s that piqued Greg Kennis' interest and prevented him from falling through the cracks.
Soon came a trial, the first game of which took place at, of all places, Bashir's club home at Guildford. Then came a summer contract, which was this week extended until the end of 2025.
It is not just the Somerset staff that think highly of Bashir though; his peers do too. Steve Davies raves about him, while Bashir's maiden professional wicket in Friday night's west country derby at Bristol was greeted by sheer joy from each of his teammates.
Essex dominated day one against Somerset (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
"It's been a mad, mad journey," Bashir said grinning. "I've always dreamed about being a professional cricketer. It means the world. I'm going to keep working hard, keep grinding and hopefully maintain this level. There is still a lot to work on. I’ve got mentors in Roela and Leachy which is absolutely unreal. Learning and new experiences is what it's about."
There is not much more one can say about Cook, nothing original at least. His 74th first-class hundred contained 19 boundaries, all bar one of which came from square point and behind. Bar against Bashir, there was barely a misstep, barely a thump, all things timed and pushed to perfection. Critchley’s milestone came at a sharpish lick (116 balls), and he can consider himself unlucky not to be the story.
Tom Westley was always going to make first use of a (slightly), used pitch. Abell would have done the same. Somerset toiled in the muggy heat, while a healthy Chelmsford crowd enjoyed Essex’s offerings.
It was a far cry from a Friday night at this very venue, and many would say an altogether more pleasant one. If there is to be victor in this match, one suspects the tempo may need a little pushing. "I think tomorrow will be a very interesting day – when Essex go out and bowl – to see how they go about it," Bashir added. "We're going to go out there and bat as well. I’m backing our batters to work hard and grind out (runs). We’ll see what the pitch does tomorrow. We’ll see how we go."
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