🔗 Share this article Shoaib Bashir Earns Surprise Inclusion in England's Ashes Squad The English team has opted for a twelve-player selection just 48 hours ahead of the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir securing a surprise place. The 22-year-old’s inclusion indicates that the visiting team will wait until the morning of the first Test to determine whether Perth Stadium pitch suit a pace-heavy attack or the inclusion of a spin bowler. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are included in the selected squad, showing there are no doubts about their pace bowler’s fitness. The other seamers complete the bowling group, with Carse most likely to be omitted if the spinner makes the starting XI. Pitch Factors Lean Toward Pace Bowlers The England coach had been anticipated to choose an all-seam attack on a venue that has hosted several previous Tests. In those games, the majority of dismissals have fallen to seamers, with only 40 to spin bowling. Among these spin dismissals, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has claimed 29, while all visiting spinners together have just a handful. On a ground renowned for its speed and carry, and whose curator, the pitch preparer, stated that these traits are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a team relying on seamers remains the probable choice. Spin Options Considered Previously there was rumors that the all-rounder could be brought into the team to offer some spin while also bolstering the batting lineup. But the coach has opted to stick with the young spinner, having stated previously that he would be his preferred slow bowler for the series. Earlier, Nathan Lyon described the English spinner as “OK,” adding 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 previous in these conditions,” Lyon remarked of spin bowling in matches Down Under. “I’m not going to let my secrets out so they perform and perform well out here.” England 12-man Squad for Opening Match The Captain Jofra Archer The Seamer Shoaib Bashir The Batsman Brydon Carse Zak Crawley Ben Duckett The Middle-Order Joe Root Jamie Smith (wk) The Speedster