'Pitch is deteriorating... a good sign for us': Shoaib Bashir

Shoaib Bashir after dismissing India’s Akash Deep in Ranchi yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

English spinner Shoaib Bashir, 20, who registered his maiden five-wicket haul (5 for 119) in Tests on Day 3 here on Sunday, feels the "deteriorating" pitch will have a few tricks up its sleeve as the visitors look to strop India from reaching the victory target of 192 on Monday.

The hosts finished Day 3 at 40 for no loss, needing 152 more to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series before the last Test in Dharamshala. According to Bashir, the match is delicately poised, offering his team's young spin attack a "chance to be heroes".

"Me and Tommy [Tom Hartley] are really excited for tomorrow. That pitch is deteriorating quite a bit now. We saw some pop from a good length and some roll. That's good signs for us and we're really excited," said the young Somerset boy at the post-day press conference.

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"We know us two lads are up against a world-class [batting] attack, but we've got a chance to be heroes. We're two tall spinners and we have tall release points. Stokesy [Ben Stokes] and Baz [Brendon McCullum] picked us for a reason. We've just got to go out tomorrow and hopefully win a Test match," added Bashir, who got his maiden five-for in only his second Test as India were bowled India out for 307 in the morning session before the hosts fought back and bowled England out for just 145 in their second innings.

"We saw how [R] Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowled on that wicket, and we take huge confidence from that," said Bashir, who bowled a marathon 31-over spell from the pavilion end on Day 2.

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