The Ashes: Shoaib Bashir omitted by England for crucial third Test

However, he struggled in Australia, hitting figures of 2-266 in two tour matches. Beşir seemed to be lacking in rhythm in the net as well.

England did not select another specialist spinner in their squad; Names like Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Jack Leach were overlooked.

This means England will rely primarily on Jacks, who is a batsman and has six first-class wickets, this year.

In contrast, Australia could call on the 38-year-old Lyon, who sits seventh on the all-time Test wickets list with 562. Lyon needs two to overtake Australian great sailor Glenn McGrath for sixth in Adelaide.

Speaking before confirming England’s starting XI, Lyon said: “I was surprised that their number one spinner wasn’t playing. Will Jacks, I thought he played a pretty good role in Brisbane with the opportunity he had.

“I don’t really care what England XI produce. We’ll worry about what we do and control what we can control.”

Head coach McCullum has previously admitted that England are unlikely to make any changes to their batting line-up, so Tongue is the only new face from the side that lost in Brisbane.

In the pace department, both teams are likely to take turns in the last three back-to-back Tests.

Australia will have the luxury of having Pat Cummins back in Adelaide after the skipper missed the first two Tests with a back injury.

England’s Atkinson struggled in the first two Tests. His three wickets cost 78 runs each, two of which were taken just as the second Test was about to end.

Tongue, 28, has taken 31 wickets in six Tests; This includes Australia’s Steve Smith being dismissed in both innings when he played his only previous Ashes match at Lord’s in 2023.

Meanwhile, England batsman Harry Brook has recognized his own shortcomings in the series so far.

Brook scored 52 in the first innings of the first Test in Perth but failed to pass 31 in his other three innings. He said the shots he played in the second innings in Perth and the first innings in Brisbane were “shocking”.

“Sometimes I have to rein things in a little bit,” Brook said. “Learning when to absorb the pressure a little more and recognizing when the opportunity arises to re-establish the pressure.

“I feel like I’m not doing this as well as I usually do. There’s no reason behind it, I just didn’t identify these situations well enough.”