LITTLE play was possible in any of Somerset’s pre-season warm up matches, but against Glamorgan last week off spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has signed a one year contract looked impressive in the few overs he was asked to bowl.

The tall 18 year old who hails from Woking and plays his club cricket for Guildford came to notice when he played for Berkshire in a match against Somerset Under 18s.

“There is cricket in my family so I started playing from an early age and from as long ago as I can remember my uncle used to take me to watch him play. He inspired me so much in the sport from a young age and I am very thankful to him.

“I started at a club called Guildford City and when I was about eight had a trial for Surrey Under 9s and got in and from there went through the age groups.

Has he always been an off spinner?

“Ever since I was a little kid I have always bowled right arm spin, I have never really been into bowling fast.I have always been an off spinner- sometimes I toss in a couple of leggies for variation.

“I have always been tall, but never quite thought Id grow to six foot four which is quite tall for an off spinner.

“After I got into the Surrey set up I moved to join the main Guildford Cricket Club and made my first team debut for them when I was Under 15. We had a really good season and got promoted into the Premier League. I bowled a lot of overs and took a lot of wickets and really enjoyed my time with the club.”

However after playing through the Surrey age groups he was released and went off to play for Berkshire.

“It was tough to take when I was released by Surrey but I think that gave me a bit more motivation and made me a bit more hungry for the game to go out and prove them wrong.

“From there on in I worked a bit harder and put in a bit more effort and worked on the things that I needed to so it’s nice to think that everything is paying off for me.

“I really enjoyed my cricket with Berkshire and got my love for the game going again in 2022. We won the T20 and 50 over Plate competition for the Minor Counties, which was a great feeling.

So how does Shoaib come to be joining Somerset?

“I got picked up after playing for Berkshire in an Under 18s 50 over match against Somerset at Wells. We bowled Somerset out for 90 and I got five wickets. Matt Drakeley (Somerset’s head of talent pathway)  messaged my Berkshire coach and I got asked to play a Second XI match for Somerset against Surrey at Guildford my home club.

“I performed well there and got asked to play another game against Warwickshire at Taunton Vale and I got five wickets again which was lovely and from there everything just happened so quickly and I signed a contract for the 2023 season.

What is he hoping for this summer?

“This is a big season for me so Im taking it one step at a time and hopefully I can perform. To get a contract extension would be ideal so Im going to work hard and put in hours of training and do all the things I need to and try not to think too much about it.”

Shoaib will be playing his club cricket for Taunton Deane this season.

“I have signed for the Deane this year and hope to improve my game playing with them and hopefully help them to win their league.”

He added: “Of course my main priority is to play for Somerset and I want to learn as much as I can from England bowler Jack Leach - I have joined his club, so with me bowling right arm off spin and Leachy bowling left arm off spin we’d work really well together ‘The Deane Spin Twins’ that would be dream!”