
Bashir and Wood named in England squad for first Ashes Test
Shoaib Bashir has been named in England's first squad for the first Ashes Test, while Mark Wood has been included as one of five pace bowlers to take on Australia in Perth.
Wood has been given the all-clear after suffering a tight hamstring in England's warm-up against the Lions last week and bowled at impressive speeds in the nets on Tuesday.
He forms a five-strong arsenal of bowlers which also includes Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and captain Ben Stokes, raising the prospect of an all-seam frontline attack.
Bashir has been named as an insurance option against a late change in conditions at Optus Stadium, having recovered from a broken finger but still trying to rediscover his form.
The spin bowler ended with figures of 2-151 from 24 overs against the Lions, but did become the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets in Tests back in May.
ASHES SQUAD
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Your 12-player England Ashes squad for the first Test in Perth
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Wood is one of five players in England's squad with previous Test experience in Australia, along with Stokes, Joe Root, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope.
He was one of the standout bowlers during the 2021-22 tour, taking 17 wickets at 26.64 and has taken more wickets against Australia (41) in the longest format.
That includes a career-best 6-37 in the last Test of that tour three years ago, when England also opted to field an XI without a specialist spinner.
England squad for the first Ashes Test
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.