Somerset Coach Considers Loan for Young Spinner Bashir

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr has responded to England Test coach Brendon McCullum's call for increased playing time for young spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley by suggesting that Bashir could be allowed to go out on loan.

Bashir and Hartley have impressed in India despite limited experience in the county game, and McCullum believes they should be given more opportunities in the upcoming season. However, Kerr acknowledges that it may be difficult to accommodate two specialist spinners in the team at the start of the County Championship, which typically favors seam bowling in spring conditions.

"It's certainly not easy, but I always try to put myself in the player's shoes and what they want is to play cricket," Kerr said. "We start the season on April 5, and I'd be surprised if too many teams are playing two specialist spinners. So I understand there will be some questions about it."

Kerr emphasized the importance of having honest conversations with Bashir about his future. "Bash will be on cloud nine right now and riding that. He would have seen the world very differently at the start of the winter than he does now that he's had international opportunities and done very well. So it's important to have really honest, transparent conversations."

Bashir joined Somerset last summer and played six times in the Championship, taking 10 wickets. He has since surpassed that number in two Tests for England but will likely find himself behind Jack Leach, England's senior spinner, who is recovering from a knee injury.

"There's still a lot of water to go under the bridge, but what I'm not going to do is stand in the way of anyone's opportunity," Kerr said. "We will always do what is best for the player and we've done it time and time again. We've allowed people to go on loan and get some cricket because it can benefit them and us in the future, and we've said no to players because they're next in line and we might need them."

Kerr indicated that Leach would be at the forefront of his planning once fit. "It's important we see both of the guys bowling first but we also look at what Leachy has done for club and country over the years," he said. "We always want competition for places and we want it to be healthy. Nobody has the right to start, but Jack has got a lot of experience, and from my side, that counts for a lot."

Kerr acknowledged Bashir's potential but emphasized the need for patience. "Bash has so much time to grow and to become a world-class spinner who can bowl on all surfaces and know when to defend and attack. He'll be coming back from India to very different conditions in the UK."

Tags: #Somerset, #ShoaibBashir, #TomHartley, #BrendonMcCullum, #JasonKerr