England have hedged their bets two days out from the start of the Ashes by naming a 12-man squad for the first Test, with Shoaib Bashir a surprise inclusion. The 22-year-old’s presence on the list suggests they intend to wait until they can assess conditions at Perth Stadium on the morning of the game before deciding whether to choose four seamers, or to make space for some spin.

Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are both in the 12-man selection, indicating that there are no doubts about either player’s fitness. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse complete the bowling group, with the latter most likely to miss out should Bashir make the starting XI. Booker prize winners, rap hits and Ryder Cups: interpreting the Ashes omens Read more

Brendon McCullum, the England coach, had been expected to opt f

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