The Ashes: Shoaib Bashir omitted by England for crucial third Test


But he has struggled in Australia, returning figures of 2-266 in two tour matches. Bashir has also looked short of rhythm in the nets.

England did not select another specialist spinner in their squad – the likes of Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Jack Leach were overlooked.

It means England will rely on Jacks, primarily a batter and with six first-class wickets this year.

In contrast, Australia can call on Lyon, the 38-year-old who sits seventh on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 562. Lyon needs two in Adelaide to leapfrog great Australia seamer Glenn McGrath in sixth.

Speaking before England confirmed their XI, Lyon said: “I would be surprised if their number one spinner is not playing. Will Jacks, I thought he played a pretty decent role in Brisbane with the opportunity he had.

“I’m not really concerned what XI England produce. We’ll worry about what we’re doing, and control what we can control.”

Head coach McCullum previously admitted England were unlikely to make changes to their batting line-up, so Tongue is the only new face from the side beaten in Brisbane.

In the pace department, both teams are likely to rotate in the final three Tests, which are played back-to-back.

Australia will have the luxury of Pat Cummins returning in Adelaide after the captain missed the first two Tests with a back injury.

England’s Atkinson struggled in the first two Tests. His three wickets have come at a cost of 78 runs each and two of them were taken when the second Test was as good as over.

Tongue, 28, has taken 31 wickets in six Tests, including dismissing Australia’s Steve Smith in both innings when he played his only previous Ashes match at Lord’s in 2023.

Meanwhile, England batter Harry Brook has recognised his own shortcomings in the series so far.

Brook made 52 in the first innings of the first Test in Perth, but has not passed 31 in his three other knocks. He said the shots he played to be dismissed in the second innings in Perth and first innings in Brisbane were “shocking”.

“Sometimes I’ve got to rein it in a little bit,” said Brook. “To learn when to absorb the pressure a little bit more and realise when the opportunity arises to put the pressure back on.

“I feel like I haven’t done that as well as I usually do. There’s no reason behind that, I just haven’t identified those situations well enough.”



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