Shoaib Bashir, Matthew Potts set to feature in Sydney Test:England announce 12-member squad ahead of final Test; Gus Atkinson ruled out due to hamstring injury

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 12-member team for the fifth and final Test match of the Ashes series against Australia on Friday. This match will be played at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 4. Australia lead the series 3-1. England has made two changes from the team that played in the fourth Test in Melbourne. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and fast bowler Matthew Potts have been included in the team. Shoaib Bashir played his last Test against India in July 22-year-old Shoaib Bashir made his Test cricket debut against India in 2024. So far, he has taken 68 wickets in 19 Test matches. Bashir has taken four wickets twice and five wickets four times in his Test career. This is the first time in the current Ashes series that England has included a specialist spinner in the team. Previously, all-rounder Will Jacks was the only spin option. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Matthew Potts made his Test debut against New Zealand at Lord’s in June 2022. He has taken 36 wickets in 10 Test matches so far. Potts also has two four-wicket hauls to his name. Gus Atkinson ruled out of the Sydney Test due to a hamstring injury
Fast bowler Gus Atkinson, who was part of the winning team in the Melbourne Boxing Day Test, will not play in this match. He has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Usman Khawaja’s last international match after announcing Test retirement
Meanwhile, ahead of the fifth Test, Australia’s experienced opener Usman Khawaja has also confirmed that he will retire from international cricket after the Sydney Test. The 39-year-old Khawaja has scored 6206 runs in 87 matches in his Test career, including 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries. England team for 5th Ashes Test
Ben Stokes (Captain), Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (Wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue.