Stokes: Bashir Remains England’s No.1 Spinner Despite Gabba Omission

England captain Ben Stokes has reiterated that Shoaib Bashir remains the team’s premier spin option despite being left out of the side for Thursday’s day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba. England made just one change to the team that lost inside two days in Perth, with allrounder Will Jacks replacing the injured Mark Wood.

Wood, who has been managing a strapped left knee and wearing a brace throughout the week in Brisbane, has been ruled out of the second Test but will remain with the squad. Stokes confirmed that Jacks’ inclusion ahead of Bashir was based purely on tactical considerations for a pink-ball match.

Bashir, along with Jacob Bethell, has been released to play for England Lions against Australia A in a four-day match beginning Friday at Allan Border Field. Despite his omission in Brisbane, Stokes emphasised that Bashir is still regarded as England’s leading spinner for the remaining Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.

“We tried to look at how we thought spin was going to be used, and there was a bit of a tactical element to it,” Stokes said on Wednesday. “Jacksy’s ability with the bat is also useful down the order. But if it ever comes down to picking our best, number one spinner, selection would go the other way.”

Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum discussed the decision with Bashir before the team was publicly announced. “He knows that if it comes down to picking our best spinner, he’s the man,” Stokes added.

Bashir has not played first-class cricket since breaking the little finger on his left hand during the second Test against India in July. He struggled during England’s internal warm-up match in Perth and was overlooked for the first Test, where England opted for an all-pace attack.

The 20-year-old, first selected for England’s 2024 tour of India after only 10 first-class wickets, has been backed as the national side’s primary spinner for 18 months. Despite holding an England contract, he is currently unattached at county level following the expiry of his Somerset deal.

Meanwhile, Wood’s fitness remains a concern after bowling only 11 overs in his first international appearance since knee surgery. He appears unlikely to be fit for the third Test in Adelaide on December 17, though Stokes said the fast bowler will “do everything” to return later in the series.

“It’s obviously a little bit of a setback,” Stokes said. “But he’s doing everything he can, and the medical group are doing everything they can to try to get him potentially available for the last three Tests.”

Stokes also praised the “incredibly talented” Jacks, who won his first two Test caps in Pakistan in 2022 and has impressed in training since arriving in Australia.

“He’s turned himself into the cricketer I always thought he could be,” Stokes said. “He’s been playing so well in the nets. It’s great for us to have someone in such good order heading into a big Test match.”

England enter the second Test trailing 1–0 in the series and have not won in Brisbane since 1986, a run spanning nine matches.