The Young Spinner Makes Unexpected Selection in England's Test Series Squad
The English team has chosen a twelve-player squad just two days before the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir securing a unexpected place.
Bashir's inclusion indicates that the tourists will delay until the day of the first Test to decide whether the venue conditions suit a pace-heavy attack or the addition of a spinner.
Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are included in the selected squad, indicating there are no concerns about their fast bowler's condition.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse round out the attack, with Carse most likely to miss out if the spinner enters the final team.
Pitch Factors Lean Toward Seamers
The England coach had been anticipated to opt for an pace-only lineup on a venue that has hosted five past matches.
In those games, 134 wickets have been taken by pace bowling, with only a small number to spin.
Of those 40 wickets, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has taken the bulk, while all visiting spinners together have only eight.
On a ground known for its pace and bounce, and whose groundsman, the pitch preparer, pledged that these characteristics are “permanent and not going to change,” a team loaded with seamers is still the more likely choice.
Spin Options Weighed
Previously there was rumors that Will Jacks could be brought into the team to provide some slow bowling while also strengthening the batting lineup.
However McCullum has opted to keep faith with the young spinner, having said earlier this year that he would be his first-choice spinner for the Ashes.
In July, Nathan Lyon commented on Bashir as “decent,” saying that “in my eyes, Jack Leach is still the English best spinner.”
“This is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for bowlers who lack experience in the previous in these conditions,” he said of spin bowling in matches Down Under.
“I’m not going to reveal my strategies so they come out and perform well out here.”
England Selected Team for Opening Match
- Ben Stokes (c)
- The Pace Bowler
- The Seamer
- Shoaib Bashir
- The Batsman
- The Fast Bowler
- Zak Crawley
- The Batsman
- Ollie Pope
- The Veteran
- The Wicketkeeper
- The Speedster
