Shoaib Bashir Makes Unexpected Selection in English Ashes Team
The English team has chosen a 12-man squad just 48 hours before the opening Test match, with the 22-year-old spinner securing a surprise place.
The 22-year-old’s selection suggests that the visiting team will delay until the day of the initial match to decide whether the venue conditions favor four seamers or the addition of a spinner.
Both pace bowlers are included in the 12-man group, showing there are no concerns about their fast bowler's fitness.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse complete the attack, with Carse most likely to miss out if the spinner enters the final team.
Ground Conditions Favor Seamers
Brendon McCullum had been expected to choose an pace-only lineup on a venue that has hosted five previous Tests.
In those matches, the majority of dismissals have fallen to pace bowling, with only a small number to spin bowling.
Of those 40 wickets, the veteran spinner has taken 29, while overseas slow bowlers together have only eight.
On a ground known for its pace and bounce, and whose curator, the pitch preparer, stated that these traits are “permanent and not going to change,” a side loaded with seamers is still the more likely decision.
Alternative Choices Considered
There had been speculation that the all-rounder could be brought into the team to offer some slow bowling while also bolstering the batting lineup.
But the coach has opted to keep faith with the young spinner, having stated previously that he would be his preferred slow bowler for the series.
Earlier, Lyon commented on the English spinner as “OK,” saying that “from my perspective, Jack Leach is still the English best spinner.”
“It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for bowlers who haven’t done it in the past in Australian pitches,” he said of slow bowling in matches Down Under.
“I’m not going to reveal my strategies so opponents perform and perform well out here.”
England 12-man Squad for First Ashes Test
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jofra Archer
- The Seamer
- The Spinner
- Harry Brook
- The Fast Bowler
- The Opener
- The Batsman
- The Middle-Order
- The Veteran
- The Wicketkeeper
- The Speedster
