Ben Stokes springs Ashes surprise as Shoaib Bashir decision made for vital third Test - The Mirror

England have once again omitted spinner Shoaib Bashir from their line-up for the third Ashes Test vs Australia, although one change has been made to the bowling department.

England have once again omitted off-spinner Shoaib Bashir from their line-up for the third Ashes Test vs Australia, although one change has been made to their bowling department. Josh Tongue has been called upon for Adelaide, stepping in for Gus Atkinson in what is a must-win Test for the tourists.

Bashir, 22, has been backed unequivocally by England since making his debut against India in February 2024, and was also expected to play a big part Down Under this winter. However, after struggling in the warm-up match at Lilac Hill, he was left out in Perth and Brisbane - with the tourists losing both matches.

With a mountain to climb to get back into the series, England have gone like-for-like in replacing seamer Atkinson with Tongue, but there's still no place for Bashir. Instead, all-rounder Will Jacks has been retained as their main spin option - adding depth to an underperforming batting line-up.

Speaking about Tongue's predicted inclusion, before a formal announcement from England followed, head coach Brendon McCullum said: "Everyone knows what he brings; high pace, hits the wicket hard from a fuller length, can swing and reverse swing the ball.

"If that's what we deem is going to be most successful, then he'll get a run."

Bashir, who has taken 68 wickets at an average of 39 throughout his young career so far, has been England's main spinner for coming up two years. However, he was injured with a broken finger last summer - opening the door for alternative options to stake their claim for an Ashes place.

England, though, went without a spinner for the opening match at Perth's Optus Stadium - with conditions there often favouring fast bowlers. Then, for the day-nighter in Brisbane, the tourists did opt for a slow option, although it was Jacks who was given the nod ahead of Bashir in part - owing to his ability with the bat.

On England's batting department, which remains unchanged and features all-rounder Jacks at number eight - who has in effect been picked ahead of specialist spinner Bashir - McCullum said: "These conditions [in Adelaide] should suit the style of batters that we've got.

"We know we haven't got enough runs so far during this series. We've been in positions where we could have and made some mistakes.

"But it's not about throwing out what has been successful for us over these last few years. We think that it's about having more conviction.

"Knee-jerk reactions or chopping and changing settled line-ups is not really our way."

After Adelaide, England go on to Melbourne and Sydney in their remaining matches. They have to win all three to recapture the urn from their biggest rivals.

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