Ricky Ponting names England’s leading spinner for the 2025-26 Ashes campaign

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With the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 series on the horizon, a debate has ignited over England‘s spin-bowling options. Australia’s former captain, Ricky Ponting, has weighed in with a strong endorsement. This comes amidst a series of stern challenges for England’s Test team, including the ongoing home series against India .

Former Australian captain Ponting has thrown his full support behind young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, asserting that he should be England’s frontline spinner in every Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series. In a strategic breakdown on Sky Sports, Ponting explained that Bashir’s bowling style, which is characterized by a high amount of overspin on the ball, is perfectly suited for Australian pitches. He noted that finger spinners who rely on sidespin have historically struggled in Australia, while those who generate overspin, like Bashir and Australia’s own Nathan Lyon, find great success.

Ponting’s endorsement is a significant vote of confidence in a player who has played more Tests (19) than domestic first-class games (15). He also pointed out the tactical advantages Bashir would have, including a significant number of left-handers in the Australian batting lineup and the opportunity to bowl into the footmarks created by left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc.

Ponting’s analysis, which praises Bashir’s similarity to Lyon, suggests that England should prioritize the young off-spinner’s raw talent and potential over the experience of other spin options. This backing comes as Bashir recovers from a finger injury that ruled him out of the latter part of the ongoing series against India, highlighting the belief that his unique skill set is precisely what England needs to succeed Down Under.

“100 per cent [would have a frontline spinner], every game [It would be Shoaib] Bashir, for me. Because I think he’s as similar to Nathan Lyon as anyone around the world, and Lyon’s record in Perth and Brisbane, particularly in Australia, are very good,” former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said on Sky Sports.

“He’ll have Mitchell Starc’s footmarks that he can bowl into as well. Australia will have probably three or four left-handers in their lineup which will aid the right-arm off-spinner as well. And it’s the overspin that you need in Australia. Finger spinners in Australia historically haven’t done well because I think there’s a lot of sidespin. Get some overspin on the ball, then you’re in the game. I’d be playing Bashir for sure,” Ponting concluded.

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While Ponting is bullish on Bashir, the man he is compared to, Nathan Lyon, holds a different view. Lyon himself has stated that he believes veteran left-arm spinner Jack Leach is still England’s best option. Lyon, who has been Australia’s premier spinner for over a decade, understands the demands of bowling in his home conditions better than anyone and feels that Leach’s experience and control are more valuable assets for England.

“Bashir has been okay, but in my eyes, Jack Leach is still their best spinner,” Lyon said, referencing a conversation with James Anderson where the veteran pacer mentioned that Bashir was selected to emulate Lyon’s bowling style. While Lyon appreciates the sentiment, he remains firm in his belief that Leach, who has a proven record of 142 Test wickets, is the more reliable choice. This divergence of opinion between two of the game’s greatest minds adds an extra layer of intrigue to England’s spin-bowling conundrum. While Ponting’s words may carry weight, England’s selectors will have to decide whether to trust the raw potential of Bashir or the proven track record of Leach as they prepare for a gruelling Ashes series.

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