The Ashes: England duo Bashir and Potts in contention for final Test

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts have both been selected in England's 12-man squad for the final Ashes Test against Australia.

England lost the first three Ashes Tests - and the series - within just 11 days of play, though they salvaged some pride with a four-wicket victory in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

They are now hoping to win consecutive red-ball matches against Australia for the first time since August 2015, and for the first time away from home since January 2011.

The fifth Test begins in Sydney on Sunday, and England must make at least one change to their starting XI from the fourth Test, after Gus Atkinson suffered a hamstring injury.

Atkinson was the third England bowler to see his series cut short,

after Mark Wood and Jofra Archer were also sidelined.

England captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum usually name their starting lineup two days out from the beginning of a Test match, but on this occasion, they have named a 12-man group with the lone omission still to be finalised.

 Shoaib Bashir
 Matthew Potts

We've named our 12-man squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia 

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 2, 2026

Bashir is yet to make his maiden Ashes appearance, with the decision to overlook him throughout this series attracting criticism in some quarters.

He has not played for England since taking two wickets in a thrilling third Test victory over India at Lord's last July, having played with a broken finger in that match.

Potts is seemingly in line to make his Ashes debut as a straight replacement for Atkinson, with his most recent Test appearance coming in New Zealand in 2024.

It will likely then be a straight choice between Bashir and Will Jacks - who took three wickets in the third Test in Adelaide but struggled in Melbourne - for the final place in England's lineup.