"England have given a surprise recall to Will Jacks as the back-up spinner for the Ashes, with Harry Brook replacing Ollie Pope as vice-captain. Jacks played his two Tests in 2022 and leapfrogs Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Jack Leach to provide cover for Shoaib Bashir. Brook's elevation is significant in that it will once again ignite the debate over the security of Pope's place at number three."
"In a 16-man party, Mark Wood is named in a stacked pace-bowling department despite not playing a Test since August 2024 because of elbow and knee injuries. With Matthew Potts taking the final specialist pace-bowling slot, Wood also joins Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue as England call on a group capable of producing the pace and bounce they believe is necessary to deliver success in Australia."
"Chris Woakes, who bravely batted with a dislocated shoulder on the final day of the home Test summer against India, was not considered on fitness grounds. The pace pack will be supported by Stokes, who England will hope can survive the five Tests down under. The 34-year-old all-rounder is still recovering from the shoulder injury that kept him out of the final Test against India, but is believed to be on track to play the Ashes opener in Perth on 21 November."
England named a 16-man Ashes squad with Ben Stokes as captain and Harry Brook as vice-captain. Will Jacks received a surprise recall as back-up spinner, leapfrogging Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Jack Leach to provide cover for Shoaib Bashir. The squad prioritizes pace and bounce, including Mark Wood despite recent elbow and knee injuries, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts as specialist pacemen. Chris Woakes was omitted on fitness grounds after a dislocated shoulder. Stokes is still recovering from a shoulder injury but is expected to be fit for the Perth opener on 21 November.
Read at www.bbc.com
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