Why Have England Picked Will Jacks For The Ashes? ECB Director Rob Key Explains

England announced their squad for The Ashes two days ago, and while it was a list mostly filled with familiar names, there was an exception in the form of Will Jacks. It was widely expected that Rehan Ahmed would get a recall thanks to his impressive form in the County Championship for Leicestershire, but the Three Lions dropped a bombshell by picking Jacks instead. 

Aside from the fact that he last played a Test back in 2022, Jacks has also featured in only three County Championship games this season, making his inclusion all the more confusing. 

ECB Managing Director Rob Key, however, termed the selection of Jacks a ‘tactical’ one.

"I think Jacks goes in as a tactical decision as much as a replacement, it just depends on conditions," Key told Sky Sports.

"He isn't the finished article as a spinner but he's someone who might be able to hold an end up if we're thinking spinners aren't going to be the ones that define the series. 

“His ability to bat too, we think he's someone who's not going to be overawed by the occasion, or by the extra pace and bounce you get over there."

The second biggest point of contention in the squad was Ollie Pope being removed from vice-captaincy, with white-ball skipper Harry Brook being named the new deputy to Ben Stokes.

Pope’s form with the bat has been dicey, and reports suggested that the move to demote him was to carve out a path to relegate him to the bench.

However, Key denied any ‘ulterior motives’ behind the Pope-Brook move. He said that Brook was made vice-captain because he was simply the best man for the role.

"There are no other ulterior motives other than the fact that we think Harry is the best person to be the best vice-captain," Key said.

"There is not an elaborate scheme where if we take the vice-captaincy off Ollie Pope it makes him easier to drop. It doesn't matter if you are vice-captain or not; if we don't feel you are the right person wherever you are batting - whether that's an opener or at number five - we'll end up bringing in someone we think can do the job better.

"At the moment, Ollie Pope is the man in possession and we'll find out what that XI will be probably two days before (the first Test). We tend to leave the decisions as late as possible.”

Key also hinted that Chris Woakes’ England career could be all but over. Woakes, who had a disappointing India series at home and injured his shoulder in the final Test, was not named in the 16-man squad for The Ashes.

"He was running out of time to be ready for the start for the Ashes, then once you get out of an Ashes series you're often looking at the next cycle. So Chris Woakes isn't in our plans at the minute at all," Key said of Woakes.