Bashir, Potts in England squad for final Ashes Test

Seamer Matthew Potts and spinner Shoaib Bashir were included in England’s 12-man squad on Friday for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia as the tourists look to finish the series on a high.

Potts is the only unused fast bowler from their starting 16-man squad and gets his chance after Gus Atkinson limped off with a hamstring problem in the previous Test in Melbourne, which England won in two days.

Fellow players Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have similarly succumbed to injury.

Wood (knee) only played the first Test in Perth while Archer was ruled out after the third Test in Adelaide with a side strain.

Australia have already won the series and retained the pot.

Potts is expected to add to his 10 caps in Sydney on Sunday, having last played a Test in December 2024, as Atkinson’s immediate replacement.

Bashir and Will Jacks will be vying for the final spot.

Bashir was considered England’s top player when they arrived in Australia but is yet to play with the preferred jacks.

Australia lead the five-Test series 3-1, but England took confidence from their frantic four-wicket win in Melbourne.

Opener Zak Crawley said it would be a “pretty good run” if they could end it 3-2.

“I think there’s a big difference just internally in the group,” he said when asked about the difference between losing 4-1 or 3-2.

“It just shows a lot about our group and how united we are if we can get a win.

“It might not go well, but if we can put in a good performance this week, that says a lot about the team.”

Sydney Cricket Ground chief curator Adam Lewis is under pressure to create a pitch that helps both bat and ball after Melbourne’s wicket was heavily skewed in favor of the pacers.

The batting on this track, which was rated “unsatisfactory” by the International Cricket Council, was treacherous.

Lewis told reporters the ground staff were aiming for six millimeters of grass, compared to 10 in Melbourne.

“The only thing we can’t control is the weather,” Lewis said, with rain expected on Sunday and Monday.

“We’re just trying to prepare a pitch that’s a great balance of bat and ball.”

England XI: Ben Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zach Crowley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue