Shoaib Bashir Earns Unexpected Selection in English Ashes Squad
England have opted for a 12-man squad just 48 hours before the first Ashes Test, with the 22-year-old spinner securing a surprise place.
The 22-year-old’s inclusion indicates that the tourists will delay until the day of the first Test to determine whether the venue conditions suit four seamers or the addition of a spin bowler.
Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are part of the 12-man squad, showing there are no concerns about their fast bowler's condition.
The other seamers round out the bowling group, with Carse most likely to miss out if the spinner enters the final team.
Pitch Factors Favor Pace Bowlers
The England coach had been expected to choose an all-seam attack on a venue that has hosted five past matches.
In those games, 134 wickets have been taken by seamers, with only 40 to spin bowling.
Among these 40 wickets, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has taken 29, while overseas slow bowlers together have only eight.
On a ground known for its speed and carry, and whose curator, Isaac McDonald, pledged that these traits are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a team loaded with seamers is still the more likely decision.
Spin Options Weighed
There had been speculation that Will Jacks could be parachuted into the team to provide some spin while additionally bolstering the lower order.
However McCullum has chosen to stick with the young spinner, having stated previously that he would be his preferred spinner for the Ashes.
In July, Nathan Lyon described the English spinner as “decent,” saying that “in my eyes, Jack Leach is still England’s top slow bowler.”
“This is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who lack experience in the previous in Australian pitches,” Lyon remarked of spin bowling in Australian Tests.
“I’m not going to reveal my strategies so they perform and excel out here.”
England 12-man Squad for Opening Match
- Ben Stokes (c)
- The Pace Bowler
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- The Batsman
- The Fast Bowler
- The Opener
- The Batsman
- The Middle-Order
- Joe Root
- The Wicketkeeper
- Mark Wood
