England have delivered a major selection surprise just two days before the start of the highly anticipated Ashes series, naming spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad for the first Test in Perth.
The inclusion of the 22-year-old off-spinner suggests England are keeping their options open, with a final decision on whether to field four seamers or include a specialist spinner expected on the morning of the match after assessing conditions at Perth Stadium.
Fitness confirmed for pace duo
In positive news for England's bowling attack, both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have been included in the squad, indicating no lingering fitness concerns for either express pace bowler.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse complete the bowling contingent, with Carse appearing the most likely to miss out if England ultimately decide to include Bashir in their starting eleven.
Perth's pace-friendly history
The selection represents something of a gamble from coach Brendon McCullum, given Perth Stadium's well-documented reputation for favouring fast bowlers. Historical data reveals a significant disparity in wicket-taking at the venue.
Across the five previous Tests hosted at the ground, 134 wickets have fallen to pace bowling compared to just 40 to spin. Even more telling is that Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has claimed 29 of those 40 spin wickets, with visiting spinners collectively managing only eight.
The ground's curator, Isaac McDonald, reinforced the venue's characteristics on Wednesday, stating that the famous pace and bounce are "a mainstay and not going to change".
McCullum's faith in Bashir
There had been speculation that all-rounder Will Jacks might provide spin options while strengthening the batting lineup, but McCullum has instead shown faith in Bashir. The England coach had previously indicated that Bashir would be his first-choice spinner for this series.
The selection hasn't gone without comment from Australian quarters. Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon offered a measured assessment of Bashir earlier this year, describing him as "OK" while maintaining that Jack Leach remains "England's best spinner" in his view.
Lyon also highlighted the challenges of bowling spin in Australian conditions, noting: "It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven't done it in the past in these conditions."
England's 12-man squad for first Ashes Test: Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Mark Wood.
