England has announced a 12-man squad for the opening Ashes Test in Perth, with the inclusion of spinner Shoaib Bashir providing a notable point of discussion. The selection leaves the team’s final composition open, pending a last-minute assessment of the pitch conditions at Perth Stadium.
The squad suggests the touring side is weighing the option of fielding a four-man seam attack against the possibility of adding a specialist slow bowler. The presence of both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood indicates confidence in the fitness of the key pace duo. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse round out the bowling contingent, with Carse likely to be the omission if Bashir is selected for the playing eleven.
Historical data from the Perth venue shows a clear preference for fast bowling, with the vast majority of wickets in previous Tests falling to pace. The ground’s curator has reaffirmed that the characteristic pace and bounce will remain, leaning the tactical decision toward a seam-heavy lineup. Despite this, the selectors have retained faith in Bashir, who had earlier been earmarked by the team management as a primary spin option for the series.
The final decision on whether to include the young spinner is expected to be made on the morning of the match.