🔗 Share this article The Young Spinner Makes Unexpected Inclusion in English Ashes Squad The English team has opted for a twelve-player squad just two days ahead of the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir earning a surprise place. Bashir's inclusion indicates that the visiting team will wait until the day of the initial match to determine whether Perth Stadium pitch suit four seamers or the addition of a spin bowler. Both pace bowlers are part of the selected squad, indicating there are no concerns about either fast bowler's fitness. The other seamers complete the attack, with the latter expected to miss out if the spinner enters the final team. Pitch Factors Favor Seamers Brendon McCullum had been anticipated to opt for an all-seam attack on a venue that has staged several past matches. In those games, 134 wickets have fallen to seamers, with only a small number to spin bowling. Among these spin dismissals, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has taken 29, while all visiting spinners together have just a handful. At a venue renowned for its pace and bounce, and whose groundsman, Isaac McDonald, stated that these traits are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a side relying on fast bowlers remains the probable choice. Alternative Choices Weighed There had been speculation that the all-rounder could be brought into the side to provide some spin while additionally strengthening the lower order. But the coach has chosen to keep faith with Bashir, having said previously that he would be his preferred slow bowler for the series. In July, Lyon described Bashir as “OK,” saying that “in my eyes, Jack Leach is still England’s top slow bowler.” “It is a huge responsibility, and it can be a significant test for people who lack experience in the past in Australian pitches,” Lyon said of spin bowling in Australian Tests. “I’m not going to let my secrets out so opponents come out and excel out here.” England Selected Team for First Ashes Test Ben Stokes (c) The Pace Bowler The Seamer Shoaib Bashir The Batsman The Fast Bowler Zak Crawley Ben Duckett The Middle-Order Joe Root Jamie Smith (wk) Mark Wood