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Ashes: England include Bashir, Potts in 12-member team for fifth Test in Sydney

Written by Sumit Seth

Seamer Matthew Potts and spinner Shoaib Bashir were included in a 12-man England squad on Friday for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia, with a final decision on who gets the nod likely after a better look at the wicket.

Potts is the only unused seamer from the tourist’s original 16-man squad and gets his chance after Gus Atkinson limped off with a hamstring issue in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

Fellow quicks 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.

Bashir was considered England’s top tweaker when it arrived, but has yet to play with spinning all-rounder Will Jacks preferred.

Australia leads the five-Test series 3-1.

SQUAD

Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue

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Sumit Seth