Bashir must play: England spin gamble in Adelaide

Durham coach Ryan Campbell has strongly advocated for Shoaib Bashir's inclusion in England's third Ashes Test lineup. Campbell believes that England cannot afford to overlook a frontline spinner on the Adelaide pitch, which is anticipated to offer significant turn. He asserts that Bashir, who has been developed for Australian conditions over three years, is the crucial selection.

While acknowledging Will Jacks's impressive batting contributions and defiant partnership with Ben Stokes in the previous Test, Campbell stated that Jacks is not a suitable primary spinner for Adelaide. The former Australian international highlighted that Jacks's bowling is insufficient for the demands of the pitch later in the match. He suggested Jacks could still feature as a specialist batter.

Bashir, a 22-year-old spinner, brings a strong record of 68 wickets in 19 Tests. Despite returning figures of 0-115 in a recent England Lions match against Australia A and mixed performances in intra-squad games, Campbell stressed his importance. The coach suggested Bashir is the player England has groomed to win games in Australia and must be selected.