Stokes backs Bashir as England’s No.1 spinner despite Jacks’ recall for Gabba Test

England captain Ben Stokes has reaffirmed Shoaib Bashir’s status as the side’s frontline spinner, even though Will Jacks has been preferred for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. England confirmed their XI for the day-night match on Tuesday, bringing in Jacks in place of the injured Mark Wood.

On the eve of the pink-ball Test at the Gabba, Stokes made it clear that the selection was dictated by conditions and team balance, not a reflection on Bashir’s standing within the squad.

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“We tried to look at how we thought spin was going to be used, and there was a bit of a tactical element to it. Obviously Jacksy’s ability with the bat, to have that down the order for us is useful as well. But if it ever comes down to picking our best, No 1 spinner, selection will go the other way,” Stokes told reporters on Wednesday.

“If it comes down to picking our best spinner, he’s the man. We thought this was the best XI for the conditions and the circumstances of the game, but he knows that if it comes down to picking our best spinner, he’s the man,” he added.

With England valuing Jacks’ all-round capabilities for this Test, Bashir will feature for the Lions in their unofficial Test against Australia A, also in Brisbane, starting Friday.

Jacks replacing Wood is the only adjustment to the side that suffered a two-day defeat in the opening Test in Perth. Wood remains sidelined due to persistent discomfort in his left knee, which he had surgically treated earlier in the year.

Despite his absence from the XI, Wood continues to travel with the squad and is aiming for a comeback later in the series, with the third Test in Adelaide still two weeks away.

“It’s obviously a little bit of a setback, but we’re doing everything we can and the medical group are doing everything they can to try and get him to potentially be available for selection in the last three. We’ve got a lot more time to go on this tour and we’ll just see how things play out with that,” Stokes said.