England spinner Shoaib Bashir suffered an injury blow and was forced to leave the field during the third Test against India at Lord’s.
The incident occurred on Day 3, in the 78th over of India's first innings, when Ravindra Jadeja drilled the ball back towards Bashir, who was struck on his fingers in an attempt to grab the ball.
The 21-year-old was in visible discomfort after being struck, prompting his immediate exit from the field. On the morning of the fourth day, England clarified that Bashir is expected to bowl in the fourth innings, while a decision was yet to be taken regarding his availability as a batter.
"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," the ECB statement read.
England veteran Joe Root would step in to complete the over and take over as England's sole spinner in Bashir’s absence.
India began the day's play at Lord's with 145 runs under their belt in their first innings as KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant resumed the action for the visitors.
The duo compiled a 141-run stand for the fourth wicket before Pant (74) was run out just before the Lunch break.
Rahul would go on to claim his second Test hundred in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series - also his second successive century at Lord's to accompany a dashing ton from his previous outing at the venue in 2021.
The Indian opener was eventually dismissed by Bashir with a flighted delivery that tempted the former into a cover drive, inducing an outside edge that was caught in the slip cordon by Harry Brook.
India eventually finished their innings at 387, equalling England's first innings effort. England had started off positively on Day Four of the Test despite an early loss of Ben Duckett.
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