In a remarkable demonstration of his growing stature within English cricket, young spinner Shoaib Bashir has secured a prized position in the front row of England's official Ashes tour photograph at Perth's Optus Stadium. This honour comes despite the 22-year-old being omitted from England's plans on the very morning of his Test debut less than two years ago.
Seniority Seating Plan Reveals Rising Stars
The seating arrangement for the traditional team photograph follows a strict protocol based on international experience, with positions determined by the number of Test caps. Bashir's tally of 19 appearances earned him a place alongside established figures like captain Ben Stokes and newly appointed vice-captain Harry Brook.
Positioned on the far left of nine seated players, Bashir found himself next to opening batsman Ben Duckett. At the opposite end of the front row, Jofra Archer flanked fellow pace bowler Mark Wood. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith headed the seven players standing behind with 16 caps - matching Archer's total, though the fast bowler claimed seniority by virtue of debuting first.
Stadium Identity Transformation Unveiled
Preparations for the series opener included significant cosmetic changes to the 60,000-seater venue, with workmen on harnesses removing Optus signage from the third tier - more than 30 metres up. The stadium undergoes an identity shift depending on the sport being hosted, becoming Perth Stadium for international cricket rather than its Australian Rules Football designation as Optus Stadium.
This naming flexibility stems from the finer details of Optus's £25 million, 10-year sponsorship deal with the Western Australian state government, which is set to expire in 2028. The comprehensive 'cleaning up' of stands ensured no commercial branding remained visible during the Test match.
Light-Hearted Moments and Coaching Changes
England's relaxed approach to the opening day was evident as players opted for a 10-minute stroll from their team hotel to the ground. This casual mood extended to the field, where a live television interview between Joe Root and Michael Vaughan was unexpectedly interrupted by England media manager Danny Reuben.
The popular Reuben, unaware the two former England captains were broadcasting live, walked directly into the camera shot. Vaughan maintained perfect composure, introducing Reuben to Australian viewers and thrusting the microphone toward him while noting that fellow commentator Mark Howard considered the Yorkshireman the best in his business. "Well, he's not wrong, is he?" Reuben smiled, before realising from others' demeanour he was live on television and making a swift exit.
In coaching developments, bowling consultant Tim Southee will depart after this first Test but plans are in place for his return later in the Ashes series. The New Zealander heads to the United Arab Emirates for ILT20 commitments, though coach Brendon McCullum wants him back for the Sydney Test. Southee's availability depends on his Sharjah Warriors team not reaching the January 4 final, which coincides with the opening day of the fifth Ashes Test.
Meanwhile, just ten miles away at Lilac Hill, former Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale served as assistant coach for the Cricket Australia XI against England Lions. The 41-year-old has made significant impressions in Australian cricket circles through his work as Tasmania's pathways coach since relocating after being among 16 people found to have been wrongly sacked by Yorkshire four years ago following Azeem Rafiq's racism allegations.
The day began with a record attendance of 43,591 for Test cricket in Perth, surpassing the 32,368 crowd for day one of Australia versus India last year. The 2025-26 Ashes curtain-raiser was officially a 60,000 sell-out, with remaining ticket holders expected through the gates by the afternoon session. Ground members began queueing at 8am on a first-come, first-served basis for just 10,000 available seats despite approximately 15,000 holding membership.
