Shoaib Bashir Earns Surprise Selection in England's Ashes Team
The English team has opted for a twelve-player selection just two days ahead of the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir earning a surprise place.
Bashir's selection indicates that the visiting team will delay until the day of the first Test to decide whether Perth Stadium conditions suit a pace-heavy attack or the inclusion of a spin bowler.
Both pace bowlers are included in the selected squad, showing there are no concerns about either fast bowler's fitness.
The other seamers complete the bowling group, with the latter most likely to be omitted if the spinner enters the starting XI.
Ground Conditions Lean Toward Pace Bowlers
The England coach had been expected to choose an all-seam attack on a ground that has staged several past matches.
During these matches, 134 wickets have fallen to pace bowling, with only 40 to spin.
Of those 40 wickets, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has taken 29, while overseas slow bowlers together have just a handful.
On a ground renowned for its pace and bounce, and whose curator, Isaac McDonald, stated that these characteristics are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a team loaded with fast bowlers remains the probable decision.
Spin Options Weighed
There had been speculation that the all-rounder could be brought into the team to offer some spin while also bolstering the batting lineup.
However McCullum has opted to keep faith with Bashir, having said previously that he would be his preferred slow bowler for the series.
In July, Nathan Lyon described Bashir as “OK,” saying that “from my perspective, the experienced spinner is still England’s best spinner.”
“This is a huge responsibility, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven’t done it in the previous in these conditions,” he remarked of spin bowling in matches Down Under.
“I’m not going to let my secrets out so they come out and perform well out here.”
England Selected Team for Opening Match
- The Captain
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- The Spinner
- The Batsman
- The Fast Bowler
- Zak Crawley
- The Batsman
- The Middle-Order
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- The Speedster
