Bashir Ditches Somerset for Derbyshire Revival

Shoaib Bashir has walked out on Somerset to sign a two-year deal with Derbyshire in Division Two, chasing more game time after being frozen out at Taunton. The 22-year-old England spinner, a Test regular with 68 wickets in 19 matches, turned down a contract extension from his home county for this fresh start.

Bashir's Somerset Struggles

Despite bursting onto the scene with his Test debut in India back in 2024, Bashir couldn't crack the first XI at Somerset. Jack Leach dominated the spin role, and even loan stints at Worcestershire and Glamorgan yielded slim pickings—just 21 wickets in 23 appearances across formats, including a poor 14 wickets at 74.78 in the County Championship. The recent Ashes tour down under was the final straw, benched for all five Tests as England opted for Will Jacks in a humiliating 4-1 loss.

Now, Bashir links up with Derbyshire head coach Mickey Arthur, the ex-Pakistan and South Africa guru, who sees him as the perfect addition to a young spin attack featuring Jack Morley and Joe Hawkins. Replacing departed Alex Thomson, Bashir is hungry for red-ball action and white-ball growth to push for promotion.

"Derbyshire have a really exciting project going on and working with Mickey Arthur, one of the best coaches in the world, is a great opportunity." — Shoaib Bashir

Somerset director Andy Hurry wished him well, but Indian fans watching this saga can't help but draw parallels to our own spinners fighting for spots in domestic ranks. With Ben Stokes calling him England's No.1 tweaker, expect Bashir to spin webs in 2026.