Follow UsThe England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced a 16-person squad for the 2025 Ashes on September 23 (Tuesday), and in what came as a huge shock, the Three Lions handed a recall to Will Jacks, who last played a Test in December 2022. It was expected that all-rounder Rehan Ahmed would get the nod thanks to stellar red-ball form, but England instead recalled Jacks, who has only played three County Championship matches for Surrey this year.
In another major development, England also axed Ollie Pope from vice-captaincy, elevating white-ball captain Harry Brook to the position. Pope captained England in the last Test they played against India two months back, but the right-hander’s dicey form, and uncertainty over his spot in the team, has seen the management hand over vice-captain duties to Brook.
Chris Woakes, who injured his shoulder in the Old Trafford Test against India, misses out, but there’s a return for Mark Wood, who last played a Test match over a year ago. Wood will spearhead England’s pace attack alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts. Shoaib Bashir is the sole specialist spinner in the squad, with Liam Dawson not making the cut.
There are no new additions to the batting group, with the Top six expected to be the same as what it was in the India series. Jacks is the batting reserve alongside Jacob Bethell, and one of the two will come into the XI should England feel the need to make a change.
The first Ashes Test will begin in Perth on November 21. England have not won a Test in Australia since the 2010/11 Ashes.
England squad for The Ashes
Ben Stokes (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (Vice-Captain), Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood