BASHIR

Shoaib says he'll be ready for Australia after hand injury

- BY DAVID CHARLESWORTH

SHOAIB BASHIR is confident he will be ready for the Ashes as he revealed his relief at an injury to his little finger being on his non-bowling hand.

Bashir went down while trying to take a catch off his own bowling in England's third Test against India at Lord's last month, necessitating an hour-long operation to insert a screw into the broken digit.

His ring and little fingers were in a splint when he appeared at a Chance to Shine event in Nottingham and England's first-choice spinner is still unsure when he will be available to take the field next.