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England have chosen a 12-man selection just two days before the first Ashes Test, with the 22-year-old spinner earning a surprise spot.

Bashir's selection suggests that the visiting team will delay until the morning of the first Test to decide whether the venue pitch suit a pace-heavy attack or the addition of a spinner.

Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are part of the selected squad, indicating there are no doubts about either fast bowler's fitness.

Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse complete the attack, with Carse most likely to be omitted if Bashir makes the final team.

Pitch Factors Lean Toward Pace Bowlers

Brendon McCullum had been expected to opt for an all-seam attack on a ground that has staged several previous Tests.

During these games, 134 wickets have been taken by pace bowling, with only 40 to spin bowling.

Of those 40 wickets, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has claimed the bulk, while all visiting spinners together have only eight.

On a ground renowned for its speed and carry, and whose groundsman, the pitch preparer, pledged that these characteristics are “a mainstay and not going to change,” a side relying on seamers is still the more likely choice.

Alternative Choices Considered

There had been rumors that Will Jacks could be parachuted into the side to provide some slow bowling while also bolstering the lower order.

However McCullum has chosen to stick with Bashir, having stated previously that he would be his preferred spinner for the series.

Earlier, Lyon commented on the English spinner as “decent,” adding that “from my perspective, the experienced spinner is still England’s top slow bowler.”

“This is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who lack experience in the previous in these conditions,” he remarked of slow bowling in Australian Tests.

“I’m not going to reveal my strategies so opponents come out and excel out here.”

English 12-man Squad for First Ashes Test

• The Captain
• The Pace Bowler
• The Seamer
• Shoaib Bashir
• The Batsman
• Brydon Carse
• The Opener
• The Batsman
• The Middle-Order
• Joe Root
• Jamie Smith (wk)
• The Speedster