Shoaib Bashir Makes Unexpected Selection in England's Ashes Team
The English team has opted for a twelve-player selection just 48 hours ahead of the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir earning a surprise place.
The 22-year-old’s inclusion suggests that the visiting team will wait until the day of the initial match to decide whether Perth Stadium conditions suit four seamers or the addition of a spinner.
Both pace bowlers are part of the 12-man squad, indicating there are no doubts about their fast bowler's fitness.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse round out the attack, with the latter expected to miss out if Bashir enters the starting XI.
Pitch Factors Favor Seamers
The England coach had been expected to choose an all-seam attack on a venue that has hosted several past matches.
In those games, 134 wickets have fallen to seamers, with only 40 to spin.
Of those 40 wickets, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has claimed 29, while all visiting spinners combined have just a handful.
On a ground known for its speed and carry, and whose groundsman, Isaac McDonald, pledged that these characteristics are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a side loaded with fast bowlers is still the more likely choice.
Spin Options Weighed
Previously there was speculation that the all-rounder could be parachuted into the team to offer some slow bowling while also strengthening the lower order.
However the coach has opted to stick with Bashir, having said previously that he would be his first-choice spinner for the series.
Earlier, Lyon commented on the English spinner as “decent,” adding that “in my eyes, the experienced spinner is still England’s best spinner.”
“This is a huge responsibility, and it can be a massive challenge for bowlers who haven’t done it in the previous in these conditions,” Lyon remarked of spin bowling in matches Down Under.
“I won't let my secrets out so they perform and perform well out here.”
England Selected Team for First Ashes Test
- The Captain
- Jofra Archer
- The Seamer
- The Spinner
- Harry Brook
- The Fast Bowler
- Zak Crawley
- The Batsman
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- The Speedster
