Ahead of the fifth and final Test match of the Ashes series against Australia, the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ashes-jacob-bethell-keen-on-dominating-number-three-spot-in-england-squad-23609998" rel="nofollow">England</a> and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 12-member squad.
The "Three Lions" have made two changes from their previous squad for the fourth Test match in Melbourne. Spinner Shoaib Bashir and pacer Matthew Potts have been picked in the team for the fifth clash.
The fifth and final Test match of the ongoing Ashes series is scheduled to be played from Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
So far, Bashir, who made his <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/will-australia-find-a-replacement-for-usman-khawaja-at-the-top-test-cricket-23610302" rel="nofollow">Test</a> debut against Team India in 2024, has featured in 19 matches of the format. He has picked up 68 wickets with an average of 39.00. The 22-year-old cricketer also has two four-wicket and four five-wicket hauls in the longest format of the game.
This is the first time that England has gone with a specialist spinner in the ongoing series. Earlier, the side had only a spin bowling option, which was all-rounder Will Jacks.
Potts made his Test debut against <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-nz-odis-will-rishabh-pant-be-able-to-make-in-indian-squad-23610254" rel="nofollow">New Zealand</a> at iconic Lord's in June 2022. Since then, the right-arm pacer has played 10 matches, picking 36 wickets at an average of 29.44, including two four-wicket hauls.
England's right-arm pacer Gus Atkinson is the only player missing from the side that defeated Australia in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by four wickets.
Atkinson has been ruled out of the fifth Test due to a hamstring injury.
Ahead of the fifth Test, veteran Australian opener Usman Khawaja confirmed that he will retire from international cricket after the conclusion of the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, beginning later this month, as confirmed by ESPNcricinfo. He represented <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ashes-i-definitely-think-it-can-spin-todd-murphy-on-sydney-pitch-23610255" rel="nofollow">Australia</a> in 87 Test matches, scoring 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39. The left-handed batsman's longest format career also includes 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries across 157 innings.
The Aussies have already clinched the series as they taken a lead by 3-1.
<h2>England squad for the fifth Ashes Test</h2>
Ben Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue.
(With ANI Inputs)

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