SOMERSET off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has earned rave reviews from England Cricket head coach Brendon McCullum.

It is clear Bashir is not merely along for the ride as despite only playing six first-class games to date, he earned praise for his efforts in the recent training camp in the United Arab Emirates.

“Bash was obviously with us during our camp in Abu Dhabi and he really impressed with his skillset,” McCullum said.

“He’s a great kid, he’s got an infectious personality and it was good to have him around us. He’s fitted in seamlessly within the group and he’s a guy who’s got an immense amount of enthusiasm, albeit at a young age and pretty limited in his first-class experience.

“Like Tom Hartley, he was a guy who we looked at and thought, ‘He’s got some skills which could assist us in these conditions’.

“When you see guys you think are good enough, and who you think are going to suit the conditions, it’s sort of horses for courses. Sometimes, you’ve got to be a little bit brave with selections.”

McCullum has hinted England could go “quids in” and field an entire attack of spinners in the second Test against India.