England’s camp admit they need something magical as their hopes of an Ashes comeback fade
England captain Ben Stokes was fit to bowl. He did not.
England rate Shoab Bashir their No.1 tweaker. He was not selected for the traditionally spin-friendly Adelaide Oval.
Why? Because of results that happened weeks ago.
Instead, England picked Will Jacks, a batting allrounder, as their spinner for an Adelaide Test they had to win to save the Ashes.
Jacks subsequently became the first English bowler to concede more than 100 runs in each innings of an Ashes Test since 1981.
“We all know why he was picked,” England’s spin coach Jeetan Patel told reporters after day three in Adelaide.
“And it was because of the first two games and we felt like we did need that extra batting cover … it probably didn’t play out as well as we would like it.”
Patel fronting the post-play media conference on Friday evidenced England’s mess – trailing Australia by 356 runs and staring at an irretrievable 3-0 Ashes deficit.
Customarily, a player who has performed well is trotted out for media; assistant coaches when things turn sour.
On day one in Adelaide, the visitors put up bowling coach David Saker. On day two it was batting coach Marcus Trescothick. On day three, Patel.
“I tend to do a lot of these ones,” he admitted, before attempting a brave spin.
“I still believe there’s an opportunity for us. It won’t be easy. We’re going to need something magical, but it’s about time we saw something magical from us.
“Three days in, we have thrown some, but taken a lot. And it’s about time, now we are backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers back.”
Captain and inspiration Stokes couldn’t land a blow in Australia’s second innings on Thursday, not bowling at all.
Stokes made a stoic 83 with the bat in more than five hours – 312 minutes precisely – in stifling temperatures.
“From what I understand, he’s fit to bowl,” Patel said.
“He’s just probably knackered and has taken a lot out of himself to get through to this point of the game … he might need a bit of time to himself right now.”
2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes
First Test: Australia won by eight wickets
Second Test: Australia won by eight wickets
Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 10:30am AEDT
Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10:30am AEDT
Fifth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10:30am AEDT
Australia squad (third Test only): Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue
