English cricket selectors have ignited a firestorm. Instead, they chose to drop 22-year-old Shoaib Bashir for the crucial third Ashes Test against Australia, taking place in Adelaide. The official squad announcement is here, along with the team’s decision to pick all-rounder Will Jacks for the upcoming match. He only just played his first Test in three years in that match in Brisbane, but veteran spinner Jack Leach and slower bowlers Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson were left out.
Bashir has looked an exciting prospect in his brief Test career so far. He’s made 68 wickets in just 19 outings, including an average of 39. It was earlier in the year when he made real headlines, becoming the youngest ever England bowler to 50 Test wickets. His omission from the group for the first two Tests down under certainly raised eyebrows. The playing conditions he said in the ICC were not suitable for his style of bowling.
The young pace powerhouse last wore an England jersey in July. Disaster struck as he broke a finger in the third Test against India. Ever since, he’s been on the sidelines. Having won the league at Taunton, his contract with the club expired at the end of the season and he has subsequently not signed a new deal anywhere. Even as he weathered firestorms, Bashir won the backing of England captain Ben Stokes. It was enough for him to be appointed the tourists’ frontline spinner going into the Brisbane Test.
Bashir has an excellent aesthetics high release point. He’s a master of getting bounce from pitches, like the one Barker did to earn himself a place in the squad. After careful consideration our selectors have chosen to retain Jacks in a place in the squad. Although he’s primarily a batter, he’s taken six first-class wickets this year, this demonstrates how the team’s strategy for the series is already developing.
“Sometimes I’ve got to rein it in a little bit,” said Harry Brook, implying that players must adapt their strategies to fit the team’s current needs.
Nathan Lyon, Australia’s seasoned spinner, expressed surprise at Bashir’s exclusion from the squad. He continued, “I would be shocked if their top choice spinner wasn’t on the field. Will Jacks, I think he really showed some stuff in Brisbane with a big chance he was given.
Bashir’s withdrawal could be seen as a sign of tactical discretion on England’s part considering the conditions they are likely to face in Adelaide. The selectors do seem to prefer a far more flexible approach as opposed to just using one traditional option as the sole spinner.
Alongside Jacks’ inclusion, quick bowler Josh Tongue has replaced fellow pace bowler Gus Atkinson in the England XI. Head Coach McDonald noted after the bowling attack was named that the inclusion of Underwood welcomes greater pace and aggression against a strong Aussie batting order.
England are on the countdown to a pivotal Test match. From the front office down to the players, everyone can’t wait to see how their new strategy translates onto the field. Bashir’s absence raises immediate questions and long-term questions about England’s plans for their spin department. With his exciting start to international cricket, this makes the downturn even more worrying.
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