England’s Test squad is brimming with talent, and 21-year-old Shoaib Bashir added to the buzz with a stunning nine-wicket match haul. As England wrapped up a dominant win, Ben Stokes used the occasion to squash doubts surrounding vice-captain Ollie Pope’s future.
Stokes criticized the media’s portrayal of his remarks on Jacob Bethell, which had been twisted to imply Pope’s spot was in danger. “That was written to suit an agenda,” he said, reiterating his confidence in Pope both as a top-order bat and a key figure in team leadership.
Zimbabwe showed brief resistance through Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza, but Bashir’s skill—and England’s all-around strength—proved too much. Stokes highlighted Bashir’s growth, saying, “It’s scary how good he already is.”