Shoaib Bashir Earns Surprise Inclusion in England's Ashes Squad
England have opted for a twelve-player selection just two days before the first Ashes Test, with Shoaib Bashir securing a surprise spot.
Bashir's inclusion indicates that the tourists will wait until the morning of the initial match to decide whether Perth Stadium pitch suit a pace-heavy attack or the addition of a spin bowler.
Both pace bowlers are included in the 12-man squad, showing there are no doubts about their fast bowler's condition.
The other seamers complete the bowling group, with the latter expected to miss out if Bashir enters the final team.
Ground Conditions Favor Seamers
The England coach had been anticipated to choose an pace-only lineup on a venue that has hosted five past matches.
During these matches, the majority of dismissals have fallen to pace bowling, with only a small number to spin bowling.
Among these spin dismissals, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has taken 29, while all visiting spinners combined have just a handful.
At a venue renowned for its pace and bounce, and whose groundsman, Isaac McDonald, pledged that these traits are “permanent and not going to change,” a side loaded with seamers remains the more likely choice.
Spin Options Considered
Previously there was speculation that the all-rounder could be brought into the team to offer some slow bowling while additionally bolstering the batting lineup.
However the coach has opted to keep faith with Bashir, having said earlier this year that he would be his first-choice spinner for the series.
Earlier, Lyon described Bashir as “decent,” saying that “in my eyes, the experienced spinner is still England’s top slow bowler.”
“It is a huge responsibility, and it can be a massive challenge for bowlers who lack experience in the past in these conditions,” Lyon remarked of spin bowling in matches Down Under.
“I’m not going to reveal my strategies so opponents come out and excel out here.”
England Selected Team for First Ashes Test
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- The Batsman
- The Fast Bowler
- The Opener
- The Batsman
- The Middle-Order
- Joe Root
- The Wicketkeeper
- Mark Wood
