CRICKET: England call up Bashir and Potts for Sydney Ashes test

SYDNEY – England has called up spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts for the final Ashes Test against Australia, starting Sunday, with one of them expected to replace Gus Atkinson, who is sidelined by injury.

Atkinson injured his left hamstring during England's win in the fourth Test in Melbourne, becoming the third English fast bowler – after Mark Wood and Jofra Archer – to have his Ashes campaign cut short by injury.

With the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) traditionally favoring spinners, the forecast of storms and rain over the first two days means Bashir’s 20th Test appearance is not guaranteed.

England lost the chance to reclaim the Ashes urn after three consecutive defeats but were encouraged by their performance in the fast-paced two-day Test in Melbourne.

Chief curator Adam Lewis expressed hope that the SCG Test would extend into a fifth day.

"You want to see a green tinge three days out," Lewis said of the pitch on Friday.

"If you're not seeing any live grass three days out, then that's when it’s a worry … I’m really comfortable with where we’re sitting. We had a little bit of sun this morning. They’re saying a bit more sun tomorrow. That will take the greenness out of the pitch. We’re really happy with the pitches at the moment."

England squad for the fifth Ashes Test:

Ben Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus/Reuters)