England have announced their 12-man squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia, set to begin on November 21 in Perth. The Ashes series is cricket’s oldest and most prestigious rivalry, and the question on everyone’s mind is whether England will field a pace-heavy attack, or whether they will include a spinner at the last moment.
The squad includes fast bowler Mark Wood and spinner Shoaib Bashir, though the England management is still pondering whether to rely solely on pace or to add spin into the mix. According to reports, England are considering a pace attack on Australia’s quickest pitches in Perth. Both captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum are reportedly favouring a pace-heavy strategy, but the final decision will be made closer to the match.
Mark Wood is currently considered fully fit after a minor injury scare in a warm-up match against the Lions. Wood bowled for nearly 40 minutes in the nets on Tuesday and followed up with two overs on Wednesday afternoon. He also spent time inspecting the Perth pitch with local curator Isaac MacDonald. Wood’s place in the XI seems almost certain, but the team management is taking extra time to decide whether to make the attack purely pace-oriented or to add a spin option.
In addition to Wood, there are five other players in the squad with previous experience playing in Australia. These players include Ben Stokes, Jack Crawley, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and Mark Wood. During the 2021-22 tour, Wood was in exceptional form, taking 17 wickets at an average of 26.64. His career-best bowling performance came in the Hobart Test, where he took 6 wickets for 37 runs.
The role of Shoaib Bashir could be crucial in this series. Bashir was part of England’s squad during the India tour last year and received praise for his bowling skills. His ‘release point’ and ‘over-spin’ are believed to be well-suited for the Australian conditions.
On the other hand, Australia’s Nathan Lyon has been incredibly successful in Perth, taking 29 wickets at an average of 20.86 in 5 Tests. His experience far outweighs Bashir’s, but Bashir’s 68 wickets at an average of 39.00 in 19 Tests makes him a potentially valuable option for England. However, Bashir struggled during a warm-up match against the Lions, where he took just 2 wickets for 151 runs in 24 overs.