India vs England: Shoaib Bashir mistakenly ignored Test coach .

Young England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir revealed that he ignored a missed call from a New Zealand dialling code number a few days earlier, thinking it might have been from “anyone random.” Bashir’s selection in the 16-man Test squad for the India tour on Monday surprised everyone, even the off-spinner himself.

Bashir, who had only played six first-class matches, said that he couldn’t have imagined in his wildest dreams that the number belonged to Test coach Brendon McCullum and that the England red-ball coach was calling to inform him of his selection for the India tour. Bashir didn’t answer until McCullum contacted him over WhatsApp.

“I didn’t think it was someone winding me up, and I didn’t think much of it until it hit me. Then I was like, ‘Wow, it’s Baz’. Honestly, I can’t put it into words now, and it’s been two or three days. It’s just so special. I’m delighted to have an opportunity – it is crazy, crazy news,” Shoaib said.

England will play five Tests in India as part of their ICC World Test Championships cycle, which begins on January 25 in Hyderabad. Bashir is preparing for a tough trip to the subcontinent with a backpack full of tricks. Aside from that, England will rely on his six-foot-four-inch stature and large hands to generate bounce and bowl with control.

“I’ve got an off-spinner, the undercutter, a side-spinner and an arm ball. And I am working on a Carrom ball, too. So, I’ve got a few, and I think they would work quite nicely in India.”

Since making his professional debut for Somerset in June, the 20-year-old has taken 10 wickets in his first-class career. He was a member of the England Lions’ squad for the UAE tour, where he met coaches and former players Graeme Swann and Andrew Flintoff.

“Legends. Such good lads. You look at them and you’re reminiscing on these old thoughts of them taking poles, whacking the ball. It’s just unbelievable. To be working with them now is incredible,” Bashir said