England suffered a massive blow during Day 3 of the third Test match against India at Lord's Stadium in London as their specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir left the field midway after getting an injury while attempting a catch. After picking KL Rahul's wicket, Bashir injured his left hand while attempting to take Ravindra Jadeja's catch.
The incident happened during the fifth ball of the 78th over. Bashir bowled a flighted delivery to Ravindra Jadeja, who ran down the pitch and smashed it hard and low towards the spinner. The England off-spinner tried to get both hands to the ball, but he just didn't have enough time. The ball hit him on his left hand, and he went down on the ground, staying there for a bit before getting up and calling for help.
The physio took a look at Bashir's injury, and it seemed that he was not well. The 21-year-old left the field and received some treatment. Joe Root completed the over with his off-spin bowling. Bashir would have bowled at least another over in his spell, which would have been the 80th over in India's first innings. Root filled stepped in and bowled seven deliveries before England decided to take the second new ball immediately, after it was available at the end of the 80th over.
England Cricket gives an update on the spinner's injury, where they mentioned that his decision to bat in the second innings will be decided later, and there are concerns over his participation in the fourth Test.
"Following his left little finger injury, Shoaib Bashir continues to be monitored and is expected to bowl in the fourth innings of this Test. A decision on whether he will bat in the third innings will be made in due course. His involvement in the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford will be assessed at the end of the match," an England statement mentioned as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
Coming back to the third Test, the first session of Day 4 is going in India's favour as Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy picked got early breakthroughs. Mohammed Siraj removed Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, and Nitish Reddy followed it up with Zak Crawley's wicket. While writing this copy, England are 51/3.
ADVERTISEMENT