England spinner Shoaib Bashir struggled on the final day of the Ashes warm-up against the Lions, perhaps raising the prospect of the tourists opting for an all-pace frontline attack for the series opener against Australia in Perth from Friday.
Bashir went for almost seven runs an over as he recorded figures of 1-83 from 12 overs bowling for the England senior team, having taken 1-68 from 12 while playing for the Lions on day two at Lilac Hill.
With England quick Mark Wood injury-free after suffering a tight hamstring while bowling eight overs on day one of the tune-up match, the tourists could opt for a bowling unit of Wood, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson at Optus Stadium.
In that scenario, Josh Tongue would be Wood’s most likely replacement if Stokes’ side feel the latter needs more time to prove his fitness.
England beat the Lions by five wickets in Perth, with Ollie Pope backing up his first-innings century – and potentially beating his Ashes No.3 – with a knock of 90 from just 67 balls as the first team reached their target of 201 in 34.4 overs after a manufactured Lions declaration of 251-6.
Pope is in fine form ahead of the Ashes opener at Optus Stadium
Stokes (15no) and Jamie Smith (39no) guided England to victory after Pope, Joe Root (31) and Harry Brook (19) fell, with openers Zak Crawley (3) and Ben Duckett (0) out cheaply – Duckett dismissed for a golden duck by Nathan Gilchrist.
Off-spinning all-rounder Will Jacks got the wickets of Root and Brook, both bowled, and may now have leapfrogged Bashir in the pecking order if England were to play a main spinner.
Jacob Bethell hit 70 for the Lions on the final day at Lilac Hill
Earlier Jacob Bethell, Pope’s rival for the No.3 spot, made 70 for the Lions before being caught and bowled by Bashir, while Ben McKinney hit 68, Jordan Cox 57 and Jacks 20.
McKinney, Cox and Lions skipper Tom Haines (12) were all out for paceman Carse, who registered figures of 3-65 from 11 overs after missing day one of the match through illness.
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Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton reacts to the news that Mark Wood is set to be fit for the first Ashes Test and Australia’s Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out
On playing in The Ashes, Durham bowler Carse said: “It’s going to be great. If the opportunity comes, it’s something I’m looking forward to taking.
“It’s exciting. I think we’ve got a group of six bowlers who, whatever dynamic we go with, will enjoy those conditions.”
The boys have all had a good three days out here. The group of seamers have all got a decent amount of overs and some of the batsmen have spent some time on the crease. Everyone loves to go.
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times Great Britain and Ireland
- First test: Friday 21 November – Tuesday 25 November (02.30) – Optus Stadium, Perth
- Second test (day/night): Thursday 4 December – Monday 8 December (4.30) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third test: Wednesday 17 December – Sunday 21 December (12:00) – Adelaide Oval
- Fourth test: Thursday 25 December – Monday 29 December (11.30 p.m) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Fifth test: Sunday 4 January – Thursday 8 January (11.30 p.m) – Sydney Cricket Ground