England have unveiled their 12-man squad for the first Ashes Test, set to kick off at Perth Stadium this Friday.
Among the names included are fast bowler Mark Wood and spinner Shoaib Bashir, giving fans a glimpse of the balance England hope to strike between pace and spin.
The final XI, however, won’t be locked in until closer to the toss.
Mark Wood Set to Lead the Pace Attack
The headline for many is the return of Mark Wood.
At 35, the Durham speedster is back after a nine-month layoff due to left knee surgery.
Scans cleared his left hamstring after a scare during the warm-up match against England Lions, and the fast bowler’s 95mph-plus deliveries are expected to headline England’s attack once again.
Wood’s experience in Australia, including finishing as England’s top wicket-taker in the 2021-22 series, gives him an edge over several of the newcomers.
His inclusion suggests England are likely to deploy a five-pronged pace attack at a venue known for helping seamers.
Last year, 17 wickets fell on day one of the Perth Test between Australia and India, a trend England will hope to exploit.
Alongside Wood, the squad features fellow speedsters Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and captain Ben Stokes, making it a fearsome pace battery that could trouble the Australian batting line-up.
Shoaib Bashir’s Spot Hinges on Pitch Conditions
Shoaib Bashir has also made the squad, cementing his status as England’s premier spinner.
The 22-year-old off-spinner, currently unattached at county level following the expiry of his Somerset contract, has 68 wickets in just 19 Tests—a remarkable strike rate for a player so young.
Despite this, Bashir’s chances of making the playing XI are uncertain.
His finger fracture over the summer and a tough warm-up match—where he conceded 151 runs for two wickets in 24 overs—may see England opt for an all-seam strategy unless the pitch starts to turn unexpectedly dry.
Selection will be a tactical call made by the England think-tank closer to game day.
The Squad in Full
Here is England’s 12-man squad for the Perth Ashes opener:
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Ben Stokes (captain)
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Jofra Archer
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Gus Atkinson
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Shoaib Bashir
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Harry Brook
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Brydon Carse
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Zak Crawley
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Ben Duckett
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Ollie Pope
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Joe Root
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Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
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Mark Wood
Looking Ahead to the Toss
As England prepare to face Australia in the first of five Tests, all eyes will be on Wood’s pace and how the team decides to use Bashir.
With Perth’s reputation for seam-friendly pitches, England’s strategy may lean heavily on their fast bowlers, though a dry patch could yet see spin come into play.
For fans, it promises to be a thrilling start to the Ashes series—a mix of experience, raw pace, and emerging talent ready to challenge Australia on their home turf.
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