![England reveal playing 12 for 1st Ashes Test [Source: AFP Photo]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1763539769923_ENGPLAYING12.jpg?type=hq)
England reveal playing 12 for 1st Ashes Test [Source: AFP Photo]
In the latest development, England has revealed their playing 12 for the first Ashes Test match vs Australia. Interestingly, Mark Wood, who has been nursing an injury, was named as the 12th player as England are hopeful of his inclusion in the main XI. The core of the squad remains the same as Ben Stokes will lead the team, and the Three Lions have included just a lone spinner in Shoaib Bashir.
Wood returned from a hamstring scare as he put in hard yards in the nets before the Test match. His leg was strapped on Tuesday, and England are hopeful that they can field an aggressive bowling combination of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer against a struggling Australian batting unit.
England's playing 12 for 1st Ashes Test
Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Mark Wood
Wood's importance for England in Perth Test
The first Test in Perth at the Optus Stadium will witness considerable pace and bounce, and there will be lateral movement on offer for the pacers. Wood’s natural hit the deck length will benefit England as the tall seamer could extract extra bounce from the surface.
The Australian batters tend to struggle against extra bounce, and England believe Wood’s presence will cause trouble for the home side.
Who will be sidelined if Wood is included in XI?
if Mark Wood is one hundred percent fit for the Perth Test, he will straightaway slot into the XI, and in such a scenario, Brydon Carse could make way for him. England have been dreaming of an Archer-Wood partnership, and Atkinson is a terrific swing bowler and can also chip in with the bat.
In such a situation, Carse might be the one who gets dropped as the Three Lions aim for a fiery pace attack.
