How should Shoaib Bashir bowl against Australia in the Ashes series? Graeme Swann reveals his advice for England spinner
Published 06/11/2025 at 12:45 GMT
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The battle between the spinners looks like being key to the destination of the Ashes. In unforgiving Australian summers, the ability to not only hold up an end but also take wickets while the seamers rotate will be as vital as ever. Shoaib Bashir is set to be England's frontline spinner, and Graeme Swann has some advice for him. The Ashes series will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Swann issues Ashes mindset advice for Bashir
Video credit: TNT Sports
England spin great Graeme Swann says Shoaib Bashir must "think like a match-winner" if he is to be successful in the upcoming Ashes series.
Bashir is set to be England's frontline spinner against Australia - in a series that will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - supporting a cast of pace bowlers that includes the likes of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson.
It will be the first time Bashir has played in Australia in a Test series, but the Somerset man does have experience from earlier this year of bowling Down Under with the England Lions, a period that he spent working under Swann.
Swann was a key component of England's attack in their 2010/11 Ashes success in Australia, taking 15 wickets, and he shared the tips he has imparted on his young protege.
"I think it's a big series for Shoaib Bashir, because he's a good bowler and he can get that bounce that you need on Australian pitches," Swann told TNT Sports.
"You're never going to be the leading wicket-taker and the match-winner over there, unless you get a big foothole to bowl into one day, so he has to do a bit of a supporting role.
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"But also see it as, 'I do want to be a match-winner, and every time I bowl I'm thinking take wickets, take wickets, be aggressive'. That way you can be successful.
"[I advised him to do] exactly those things. Just being aggressive all the time, always thinking 'how am I getting a wicket'. Not just trying to stop the runs, I'm trying to get this guy out, how am I imagining getting the guy out.
"You're not the match-winner necessarily, but you've got to think like one.
"I think it's important [for him] to use that first month before the Ashes starts to really get as much bowling under your belt as you can, get your confidence up, get your numbers up, and then hopefully you hit the ground running on day one."
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England travel Down Under with Bashir as their specialist spinner, and a number of different options behind him.
There is the dual part-time spin option of Joe Root and Jacob Bethell, while Will Jacks - a destructive batter - is the back-up spin option, and Swann believes he could be a "maverick" selection if called upon by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.
"[Jacks] is a great selection I reckon," Swann said. "He's been picked because of how aggressive he is, how good a player he is against short bowling on bouncy pitches.
"And also that off spin, and he gets good bounce as well. If he plays, he could be a real maverick selection, I like it."
Beyond the initial 16-man squad that will travel for the Ashes, England's ranks will be swelled down under by the presence of an 18-player England Lions group, led by Andrew Flintoff.
That group, who have been preparing at Loughborough with Swann and Chris Woakes in coaching roles, will play four matches on their tour, including a warm-up against the senior England side in Perth between November 13-15.
Named in that Lions squad are the likes of Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker, two players who impressed in last summer's Hundred competition and who could be in the minds of McCullum and Stokes should injury strike the senior ranks.
They are joined by Rehan Ahmed, another spinner Swann has worked with, this time at Hundred franchise the Trent Rockets, and someone he termed a potential "wild card".
"I think it's very wise," Swann said of England's decision to load their options.
"Get as many blokes out there bowling in those conditions as you can, because at some point you may be called up to go and try and win a Test match for your country.
"That happened to people like [Chris] Tremlett and [Tim] Bresnan in the 2010/11 Ashes, and they stepped into the role beautifully, so hopefully those guys can do the same this time out.
"Rehan is a wild card, but I back him to the hilt because he's so confident, he's so full of beans when he's out there and he drives the energy of the fielders, of the team.
"He could be a real maverick pick as well - he is a match-winner."
The first Test in Perth starts on Friday, November 21.
Watch every ball of The 2025/26 Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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