England’s cricket team has announced a 16-man squad. They are looking ahead to their hotly contested Ashes series against Australia, their first Test starting this Friday in Perth. The slate will feature just five players who have made Test appearances on Australian soil before. That should cause alarm about the team’s preparedness to face an especially formidable challenge. According to bowler Gus Atkinson, the squad’s relative inexperience could be a blessing in disguise.
Atkinson, who’ll be joining the likes of Dre’Mont Jones and Tyler Grisham in a pace-dominant offense, was encouraged by the Black and Gold’s mentality. For us, we’re a pretty laid back, pretty upbeat bunch. No scarring. It’s very exciting. We all look at it as a tremendous opportunity to help create something really special,” he said. The team’s plan to be due a little luck of their own. They haven’t beaten Australia in a Test match there since 2011 and that drives their desire.
The roster features big names such as Ben Stokes, who will be captain. Alongside him you will find familiar big names like Joe Root and Ben Duckett. England have kept faith with young offie Shoaib Bashir in their 12-man squad. Most notably they have named as many as five pace bowlers – a clear indicator of their preference to stay flexible ahead of the first Test.
Bashir, 22, has been England’s first-choice Test spinner for over a year and sealed his spot at the World Cup. Earlier this year, he shocked many to become the youngest England bowler to take 50 Test wickets in May. Yet, he too has struggled as of late, having missed time with a broken finger. He had a difficult time in England’s only warm-up match against the England Lions. He ended the Welsh innings with one of his worst figures of his Test career—2-151 in 24 overs.
It seems the final team selection may come down to a choice between him and seamer Brydon Carse. Mark Wood is once again fit to play! He’s sure to be a key piece of a world-beating pace attack with Jofra Archer and Atkinson able to crank it up past 90 mph. If selected this would tie the record for the most express pace bowlers England have ever played in a single Test match. Get ready for what promises to be an electrifying matchup!
The first Test of the Ashes series is scheduled to commence at 02:20 GMT on Friday. Fans can follow live text coverage, commentary from Test Match Special and in-play highlights via the BBC Sport website.
As England prepares to face Australia in Perth, they aim not only to break their long-standing winless streak but to establish a new identity with a youthful squad ready to seize opportunities on the international stage.
Leave a Reply