England have named a 12-man squad for the opening Test of the Ashes against Australia, set to begin on November 21 in Perth, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and a strong pace unit headlining the selection. The biggest boost for England is the return of Mark Wood, who has been declared fit after recovering from hamstring soreness and is now in contention to feature in the series opener.
With conditions in Perth expected to offer a healthy grass cover, England have strengthened their pace options, selecting Wood alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse. Ben Stokes, who continues to operate as a specialist all-rounder, further adds depth to their fast-bowling resources.
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The final spot in the XI is likely to be a direct shootout between Bashir and Carse, depending on how the pitch shapes up on match day. Despite the anticipated pace-friendly surface, the dryness underneath has ensured Bashir remains in the conversation.
🏴 England have named the 12-player squad that will play the first Ashes Test on Friday.
They are currently 9/4 to lift The Ashes down under.https://t.co/xqEuXJnLW3
18+ | GambleAware pic.twitter.com/F6bQ9ptXLR
— BestOdds UK (@BestOdds_UK) November 19, 2025
The 22-year-old, England’s preferred spinner over the past year, has not featured since July, when he claimed the decisive wicket in a thrilling win against India at Lord’s. Joe Root also provides a part-time spin option if England choose to go without a specialist.
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Interestingly, England last fielded a Test XI without a frontline spinner in Australia back in 1998, making the final decision a crucial tactical call ahead of the high-stakes Ashes opener.
England squad for 1st Ashes Test: England squad for 1st Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Shoaib Bashir.
