🔗 Share this article Shoaib Bashir Earns Surprise Selection in England's Test Series Team The English team has chosen a 12-man squad just 48 hours ahead of the opening Test match, with the 22-year-old spinner securing a unexpected place. Bashir's selection suggests that the tourists will wait until the day of the initial match to determine whether Perth Stadium conditions favor four seamers or the addition of a spinner. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are included in the selected group, showing there are no doubts about either fast bowler's fitness. The other seamers complete the attack, with Carse expected to miss out if Bashir enters the final team. Ground Conditions Favor Seamers Brendon McCullum had been expected to opt for an pace-only lineup on a ground that has hosted several past matches. During these games, the majority of dismissals have fallen to seamers, with only 40 to spin. Of those spin dismissals, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has taken 29, while all visiting spinners together have just a handful. At a venue renowned for its speed and carry, and whose curator, the pitch preparer, stated that these traits are “permanent and not going to change,” a team loaded with seamers is still the probable decision. Spin Options Considered There had been speculation that Will Jacks could be parachuted into the team to offer some spin while also bolstering the batting lineup. But McCullum has chosen to stick with Bashir, having said previously that he would be his preferred slow bowler for the Ashes. Earlier, Lyon commented on the English spinner as “OK,” saying that “in my eyes, the experienced spinner is still the English top slow bowler.” “This is a huge responsibility, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven’t done it in the past in Australian pitches,” he said of slow bowling in Australian Tests. “I won't let my secrets out so they perform and perform well out here.” English Selected Team for Opening Match Ben Stokes (c) Jofra Archer Gus Atkinson The Spinner The Batsman The Fast Bowler The Opener Ben Duckett The Middle-Order Joe Root Jamie Smith (wk) The Speedster