Shoaib Bashir Makes Surprise Inclusion in England's Test Series Squad
England have opted for a twelve-player selection just two days before the opening Test match, with the 22-year-old spinner securing a unexpected place.
The 22-year-old’s inclusion indicates that the visiting team will wait until the day of the initial match to decide whether the venue pitch suit four seamers or the addition of a spin bowler.
Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are included in the selected squad, indicating there are no concerns about either pace bowler’s fitness.
The other seamers round out the attack, with the latter expected to be omitted if the spinner makes the starting XI.
Pitch Factors Favor Pace Bowlers
The England coach had been expected to choose an all-seam attack on a venue that has staged five past matches.
In those matches, the majority of dismissals have been taken by seamers, with only a small number to spin.
Among these spin dismissals, the veteran spinner has claimed 29, while overseas slow bowlers combined have only eight.
On a ground renowned for its speed and carry, and whose curator, the pitch preparer, stated that these characteristics are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a team relying on seamers is still the probable decision.
Alternative Choices Weighed
Previously there was speculation that Will Jacks could be parachuted into the team to offer some slow bowling while additionally bolstering the batting lineup.
However McCullum has opted to stick with the young spinner, having said previously that he would be his first-choice spinner for the series.
Earlier, Nathan Lyon commented on the English spinner as “decent,” adding that “from my perspective, the experienced spinner is still the English best spinner.”
“This is a huge responsibility, and it can be a significant test for people who lack experience in the previous in Australian pitches,” Lyon remarked of spin bowling in Australian Tests.
“I won't let my secrets out so they perform and excel out here.”
England 12-man Squad for First Ashes Test
- The Captain
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- The Batsman
- Brydon Carse
- The Opener
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- The Veteran
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- The Speedster
