Shoaib Bashir Earns Surprise Inclusion in English Test Series Team
England have opted for a twelve-player selection just two days ahead of the first Ashes Test, with the 22-year-old spinner earning a unexpected place.
The 22-year-old’s inclusion indicates that the tourists will delay until the day of the first Test to decide whether the venue conditions suit four seamers or the addition of a spinner.
Both pace bowlers are included in the selected squad, showing there are no concerns about their fast bowler's fitness.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse complete the bowling group, with Carse expected to be omitted if Bashir makes the starting XI.
Pitch Factors Favor Seamers
The England coach had been anticipated to opt for an all-seam attack on a ground that has staged five past matches.
During these matches, the majority of dismissals have fallen to seamers, with only 40 to spin bowling.
Among these spin dismissals, the veteran spinner has claimed 29, while all visiting spinners combined have just a handful.
On a ground renowned for its speed and carry, and whose groundsman, the pitch preparer, pledged that these characteristics are “permanent and not going to change,” a side loaded with seamers is still the more likely choice.
Spin Options Weighed
Previously there was speculation that Will Jacks could be brought into the team to offer some slow bowling while additionally bolstering the lower order.
But McCullum has chosen to stick with Bashir, having said earlier this year that he would be his preferred slow bowler for the series.
In July, Nathan Lyon described Bashir as “OK,” saying that “in my eyes, the experienced spinner is still England’s best spinner.”
“This is a massive role, and it can be a significant test for bowlers who lack experience in the past in these conditions,” Lyon remarked of spin bowling in matches Down Under.
“I won't let my secrets out so opponents perform and excel out here.”
England 12-man Squad for First Ashes Test
- The Captain
- The Pace Bowler
- The Seamer
- The Spinner
- The Batsman
- The Fast Bowler
- The Opener
- Ben Duckett
- The Middle-Order
- Joe Root
- The Wicketkeeper
- Mark Wood
