Shoaib Bashir Earns Surprise Inclusion in England's Test Series Team
England have opted for a 12-man squad just two days ahead of the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir securing a surprise spot.
Bashir's selection indicates that the visiting team will wait until the morning of the initial match to determine whether the venue conditions suit a pace-heavy attack or the addition of a spin bowler.
Both pace bowlers are part of the selected squad, showing there are no doubts about either pace bowler’s fitness.
The other seamers round out the bowling group, with the latter most likely to be omitted if the spinner enters the starting XI.
Pitch Factors Favor Pace Bowlers
The England coach had been expected to choose an all-seam attack on a ground that has staged five previous Tests.
In those games, the majority of dismissals have fallen to seamers, with only a small number to spin bowling.
Of those 40 wickets, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has claimed the bulk, while all visiting spinners together have only eight.
On a ground renowned for its speed and carry, and whose curator, Isaac McDonald, stated that these traits are “permanent and not going to change,” a side relying on fast bowlers remains the probable choice.
Spin Options Considered
Previously there was rumors that Will Jacks could be parachuted into the side to offer some slow bowling while also strengthening the batting lineup.
But the coach has chosen to keep faith with Bashir, having stated previously that he would be his first-choice slow bowler for the Ashes.
In July, Nathan Lyon described Bashir as “OK,” saying that “in my eyes, Jack Leach is still the English top slow bowler.”
“This is a huge responsibility, and it can be a significant test for bowlers who haven’t done it in the past in Australian pitches,” Lyon said of spin bowling in Australian Tests.
“I won't let my secrets out so opponents come out and excel out here.”
England 12-man Squad for Opening Match
- The Captain
- Jofra Archer
- The Seamer
- The Spinner
- Harry Brook
- The Fast Bowler
- The Opener
- The Batsman
- The Middle-Order
- The Veteran
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- The Speedster
