England have made a bold and contentious selection ahead of the crucial third Ashes Test in Adelaide, opting to leave frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir out of the side once again. The tourists must win to keep their series—and hopes of regaining the urn—alive.
The only expected change to the XI that lost the second Test in Brisbane sees pace bowler Josh Tongue replace Gus Atkinson. However, it is the omission of the 22-year-old Bashir that stands out, particularly on a ground where spin is anticipated to play a major role.
Instead, England have retained all-rounder Will Jacks, who played his first Test in three years in Brisbane.
The decision by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum is a high-stakes gamble with jobs and reputations potentially on the line—and it calls into question England’s entire two-year project of developing Bashir on the Test stage.
While Bashir’s absence from the first two Tests was attributed to conditions, his continued exclusion in Adelaide is striking. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who bowled only two overs in the first Test before being rested for the second, will return at a venue where he is the leading wicket-taker with 63 scalps, ahead of the legendary Shane Warne (56).
The importance of spin is likely to be further accentuated by extreme temperatures forecast to reach 39°C on the second day.
England have invested significant faith in Bashir as their frontline spinner, valuing his high release point and ability to extract bounce—traits considered well-suited to Australian pitches. Since his debut in India in early 2024, he has taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at an average of 39, becoming England’s youngest bowler to reach 50 wickets this past May. His most recent act in an England shirt was the match-winning wicket in a thrilling Test at Lord’s.
Yet, Bashir has not played since breaking his finger in July. Despite Stokes publicly backing him as the team’s primary spinner before the Brisbane Test, the selectors have now turned to Jacks for a second consecutive match. The move leaves Bashir—whose county contract at Somerset expired this season and remains unsigned—watching from the sidelines as England enter what could be a decisive battle in Adelaide.
England XI for the third Ashes Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.
By James Kisoo
