England Selects Bashir for Ashes Opener, Eyes Pace Attack

England has announced its squad for the first Test of the Ashes series against Australia, naming off-spinner Shoaib Bashir among a 12-man lineup that includes five pace bowlers. The decision to include Bashir keeps options open for the match scheduled for 02:20 GMT on Friday at Perth Stadium.

Fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared to play, increasing the likelihood of an all-pace attack. England’s final selection appears to be between Bashir and seamer Brydon Carse. If they choose to field four specialist pace bowlers, along with all-rounder Ben Stokes, England would deploy one of the fastest bowling line-ups seen in an Ashes Test on Australian soil.

The pitch conditions at Perth have prompted this strategy. According to pitch curator Isaac McDonald, fans can expect “pace and bounce” from the surface. Yet, the dryness noted may also favor spin, putting Bashir back in contention.

Bashir, 22, has been backed as England’s primary spinner for over a year. He made history in May as the youngest England bowler to reach 50 Test wickets. However, he has not played competitively since July, when he took the final wicket against India at Lord’s, due to a broken finger. His recent performance in a warm-up match against England Lions was less than stellar, returning figures of 2-151 from 24 overs.

Interestingly, this Test could mark Bashir’s debut in the Ashes without being contracted to a county, as his deal with Somerset expired at the end of the previous season. Yet the prospect of a bowling squad featuring Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, captain Stokes, and Carse—each capable of reaching speeds over 90 mph—remains the most probable scenario.

England’s squad for the first Test includes: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), and the aforementioned bowlers. The potential pace-heavy lineup has historical precedence; past triumphs in the Ashes have often relied on fast bowlers, though no team has previously fielded as many express bowlers simultaneously.

Reflecting on past successes, the 2005 series featured notable pace bowlers like Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff. Similarly, the 1970-71 series saw bowlers Bob Willis and Peter Lever contribute to a historic victory. The infamous 1932-33 Bodyline series, which ignited diplomatic tension over its aggressive bowling strategy aimed at Don Bradman, also highlights England’s complex history in Australia.

This Ashes series is highly anticipated, particularly as England looks to reverse a troubling trend; they have not secured a Test victory in Australia since 2011. Only five players from the current squad have previous Test experience in Australia. However, Atkinson believes this could work to England’s advantage. “We are a very relaxed, very positive group. No scarring. It’s very exciting,” he shared with BBC Sport, emphasizing the opportunity at hand.

Meanwhile, Australia is expected to make some changes of their own, with reports suggesting that opener Jack Weatherald is set to make his debut, alongside uncapped pace bowler Brendan Doggett. This comes following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood.

As both teams prepare for the Test, the stage is set for an exhilarating start to the Ashes series, where every decision made could prove critical in the battle for cricketing supremacy.