Shoaib Bashir Earns Surprise Inclusion in English Test Series Squad
England have chosen a 12-man squad just 48 hours before the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir earning a surprise spot.
Bashir's inclusion indicates that the tourists 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 spinner.
Both pace bowlers are part of the selected squad, indicating there are no doubts about their fast bowler's condition.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse round out the bowling group, with the latter most likely to be omitted if Bashir makes the starting XI.
Pitch Factors Lean Toward Seamers
The England coach had been expected to opt for an pace-only lineup on a ground that has hosted several past matches.
In those games, 134 wickets have fallen to seamers, with only a small number to spin bowling.
Among these 40 wickets, the veteran spinner has claimed 29, while all visiting spinners together have just a handful.
At a venue known for its pace and bounce, and whose groundsman, Isaac McDonald, pledged that these characteristics are “permanent and not going to change,” a team loaded with seamers remains the more likely decision.
Alternative Choices Weighed
There had been rumors that the all-rounder could be parachuted into the side to provide some slow bowling while also strengthening the batting lineup.
However the coach has chosen to stick with the young spinner, having stated previously that he would be his first-choice slow bowler for the series.
In July, Lyon described the English spinner as “decent,” adding that “from my perspective, the experienced spinner is still the English top slow bowler.”
“This is a huge responsibility, and it can be a significant test for people who haven’t done it in the previous in these conditions,” Lyon remarked of slow bowling in Australian Tests.
“I’m not going to let my secrets out so they come out and excel out here.”
English Selected Team for Opening Match
- The Captain
- Jofra Archer
- The Seamer
- The Spinner
- Harry Brook
- Brydon Carse
- The Opener
- The Batsman
- Ollie Pope
- The Veteran
- The Wicketkeeper
- The Speedster
