Stokes’ deputy Harry Brook, surprise pick Will Jacks, and the returning Mark Wood are all included in England’s Ashes squad.
Harry Brook will take on additional responsibilities as he leads the side on the Australia tour, being named vice-captain for the Ashes series. Will Jacks, making a comeback to Test cricket after nearly three years, is the squad’s most surprising inclusion, while pace bowler Mark Wood returns after recovering from injury.
England announced a 16-man squad on Tuesday for the Ashes series scheduled for November to January under the leadership of Ben Stokes. Despite losing his deputy role, wicketkeeper Ollie Pope retains his place in the team.
Over the past 14 months, Pope captained England in five Tests during Stokes’ absence, including the last match against India at The Oval in July. Although he scored a century at Headingley to start the India series, Pope could not consistently perform, ending the five-Test series with an average of 34.
Pope’s inconsistent performance in the home series against India has left his place in the XI somewhat unstable, and Jacob Bethell could feature at number three in the Ashes lineup.
There are concerns over Stokes’ fitness after he missed the last match of the India series due to a shoulder injury. In the first Ashes Test starting in Perth on November 21, vice-captain Brook may lead the team in Stokes’ absence.
The squad’s biggest surprise is Will Jacks, who returns to the Test side after almost three years. A batting all-rounder who bowls effective off-spin, Jacks has played only five first-class matches over the past two seasons.
Jacks last played a Test in December 2022. In that format, he scored 89 runs across four innings and took six wickets, all in a single innings. Overall, in 57 first-class matches, he has scored 2,591 runs with four centuries at an average of 34.54 and claimed 49 wickets.
Mark Wood, sidelined since February due to a knee injury, has been recalled to the squad. He joins fellow pacers Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts, who last played a Test at the end of last year.
Off-spinner Saqib Bashir, who missed part of the India series due to a finger injury, has also been included, while experienced pacer Chris Woakes, injured in the shoulder during that series, is absent.
Before the Ashes, England will play three ODIs and three T20Is in New Zealand. Jack Crowley, awaiting his T20I debut, has been included in the T20 side. Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, and Archer will feature in the ODI series.
Only Phil Salt, Crowley, and Jordan Cox are included in the T20I squad.
The first two T20Is will take place in Christchurch on October 18 and 20, with the final match in Auckland on October 23. The ODIs will be held in Mount Maunganui, Hamilton, and Wellington on October 26, 29, and November 1.
England Ashes Squad
Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (vc), Brydon Carse, Jack Crowley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tong, Mark Wood
England New Zealand T20 Squad
Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Jack Crowley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood
England New Zealand ODI Squad
Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Jamie Smith, Jofra Archer, Luke Wood
