England has announced their squad for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, surprising many with the inclusion of Will Jacks. Jacks, a versatile player from Surrey, will serve as a backup spinner alongside Shoaib Bashir, while Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Liam Dawson were not chosen.
In a notable change, Harry Brook has been appointed as the new vice-captain, taking over from Ollie Pope as Ben Stokes’ deputy. This decision raises questions about Pope’s position at No.3, especially with Jacob Bethell competing for his spot.
Pope, who has led the England team in Stokes’ absence on five occasions, may need to be prepared to step in if Stokes faces any injury setbacks. Brook has shown promise in his role as the limited-overs captain, which has earned him this new responsibility.
Jacks, who last played Test cricket in Pakistan three years ago, showcased his talent by taking six wickets in a single innings and scoring 89 runs. The squad of 16 also features a strong pace-bowling unit, with Durham’s Matthew Potts making a return due to injuries to Chris Woakes and Jamie Overton’s retirement from Test cricket.
The pace attack will be bolstered by the likes of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, supported by Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue. England is planning to rotate their seamers, particularly focusing on managing the workload of Wood and Archer, who have been plagued by injuries.
Ben Stokes, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, will play a crucial role in the team’s performance during the five-match series. The opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will aim to provide solid starts, with Joe Root set to bat at four and aiming for his first century in Australia.
Behind the stumps, Jamie Smith will continue his impressive form, having averaged 48.86 in his first 15 Test matches, including two centuries. The squad, led by Ben Stokes, also includes key players like Joe Root, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood.
The Ashes series is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see how this talented England squad will perform against Australia.