🔗 Share this article Shoaib Bashir Makes Unexpected Inclusion in English Test Series Team England have opted for a twelve-player selection just 48 hours before the opening Test match, with Shoaib Bashir earning a surprise spot. The 22-year-old’s inclusion indicates that the tourists will wait until the day of the initial match to decide whether the venue pitch favor a pace-heavy attack or the inclusion of a spinner. Both pace bowlers are part of the 12-man group, showing there are no doubts about their fast bowler's fitness. The other seamers round out the attack, with the latter most likely to be omitted if Bashir makes the starting XI. Pitch Factors Lean Toward Pace Bowlers Brendon McCullum had been anticipated to opt for an pace-only lineup on a venue that has hosted several previous Tests. In those matches, the majority of dismissals have fallen to pace bowling, with only 40 to spin. Of those 40 wickets, the veteran spinner has taken 29, while all visiting spinners combined have only eight. On a ground known for its speed and carry, and whose groundsman, the pitch preparer, pledged that these characteristics are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a team loaded with seamers remains the probable choice. Spin Options Weighed Previously there was speculation that Will Jacks could be brought into the team to provide some spin while additionally strengthening the batting lineup. But McCullum has opted to keep faith with Bashir, having said previously that he would be his preferred spinner for the series. Earlier, Nathan Lyon described the English spinner as “decent,” saying that “in my eyes, the experienced spinner is still the English best spinner.” “It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for bowlers who lack experience in the previous in Australian pitches,” he remarked of slow bowling in matches Down Under. “I won't let my secrets out so opponents perform and excel out here.” England 12-man Squad for First Ashes Test Ben Stokes (c) Jofra Archer The Seamer The Spinner Harry Brook Brydon Carse Zak Crawley The Batsman Ollie Pope The Veteran Jamie Smith (wk) Mark Wood