Bashir named in England XII for final Ashes Test

Bashir named in England XII for final Ashes Test
Bashir named in England XII for final Ashes Test

England have selected standout Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney.

Bashir has not played in the first four matches despite starting the series as England’s starter.

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The 22-year-old missed the first Test after being named in a 12-man squad in Perth and has since been overlooked in favor of all-rounder Will Jacks.

Seamer Matthew Potts is also in the England XII, with the tourists guaranteed to make at least one change from the team that won the fourth Test in Melbourne after Gus Atkinson was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, England usually name their XI two days before a Test.

However, tourists have opted to wait longer before the final match, which starts on Sunday (23:30 GMT Saturday), to assess conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

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On Thursday the field appeared to have a thick layer of grass, but on Friday it was losing its green tint.

Sydney often offers assistance to slow bowlers. Three of the top four Test wicket-takers at the venue are Australian spinners: Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill and Nathan Lyon.

But this Ashes has been dominated by seam bowling. So far, spinners have taken just nine wickets, leaving him on track to be the fewest slow bowlers in an Ashes series of at least four Tests.

Australia omitted a spinner from their lineup for the fourth Test, which England won by four wickets in Melbourne to reduce the series deficit to 3-1.

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Now the hosts could include spinner Todd Murphy, while all-rounder Beau Webster can replace Cameron Green and also offers a spin option.

England XII for Ashes Final Test: Ben Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

Bashir has not played for England since the third Test against India in July. He suffered a broken finger at Lord’s but was still able to take the wicket that sealed a thrilling victory.

His only cricket on the Ashes tour came in the warm-up match between England and the England Lions before the first Test, then for the Lions against the Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane. In those games, Bashir scored combined figures of 2-266.

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England explained the selection of Jacks by the need to strengthen their batting. Primarily a batsman, Jacks offered depth at number eight and took four wickets. He did not bowl in the two-day Test in Melbourne.

Realistically, England’s choice is between Bashir and Jacks, depending on the role the tourists believe the spin will play.

If Bashir gets the nod, it would leave England with a long queue, with Brydon Carse in the number eight spot.

Durham seamer Potts is in line for his Ashes debut as Atkinson’s replacement. Potts played the most recent of his 10 Tests in New Zealand at the end of 2024.

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An England regular when Stokes and McCullum took over in the summer of 2022, the 27-year-old has had a checkered career over the past three years. His previous seven international matches came against six different opponents.

“He’s bowling very well,” England opener Zak Crawley said. “I’ve faced Pottsy quite a bit and he impresses me every time.

“He has the heart of a lion, a lot of ability and if he gets the nod this week he deserves it.”

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