SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT
Stokes is in line to regain full fitness ahead of the away Ashes. © Getty
Even as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury, Ben Stokes has been named captain of England for the Ashes, with the selectors announcing the squad on Tuesday (September 23). Matthew Potts and Will Jacks have been named in the 16-member squad, with the latter expected to regain full fitness from a finger injury in time for the Ashes after missing the preceding white-ball series against New Zealand.
Potts, the Durham pacer, last played a Test against New Zealand in December 2024 while Surrey’s Jacks last featured against Pakistan in December 2022. Potts currently has 28 wickets to his name in 10 County Championship games this season, with a best of 4 for 84. Jacks has played in only three innings, scoring 136 runs, with 119 coming in a single innings.
Harry Brook has been appointed vice-captain for the Ashes, replacing Ollie Pope, while Mark Wood returns after overcoming a left knee injury. Shoaib Bashir, who sustained a finger injury during the series against India, has also been included in the squad.
Alongside Stokes, the squad includes experienced campaigners Joe Root, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Pope, with Jamie Smith as the wicketkeeper. Jofra Archer, who returned to Test action midway during the India series, will lead the pace attack which also has Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Wood and Potts. Bashir is the frontline spinner while Root, Jacob Bethell and Jacks are the other spin options.
Meanwhile, Chris Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder during The Oval Test against India, hasn’t been selected for the Ashes. The 36-year old defied the injury and came out to bat with his left-arm in a sling on the final day after sustaining the injury on the opening day when he dived to save a boundary. He had stated that he would focus on rehab and avoid surgery in a bid to get fit for the Ashes. “Going to try and (stay) focused on the rehab and get it as strong as possible. Ideally not for surgery for now but we’ll see how that goes and hopefully we can get it nice and strong again,” he had told Sky Sports.
England Ashes squad: 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
Archer rested for T20I series
Ahead of the Ashes, England will travel to New Zealand for a limited-overs tour comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs. Brook, who has been handed leadership responsibilities across the limited overs format, will lead the team again. Duckett, Smith and Archer will be rested for the T20I series while Zak Crawley has earned a maiden T20I call-up.
The ODI squad features the return of Sam Curran and Liam Dawson, while Luke Wood has also been rewarded for consistent white-ball form. Rehan Ahmed, Bethell, Sonny Baker and Jamie Overton have all been named across both limited-overs squads. Saqib Mahmood, meanwhile, misses out from the squads for the New Zealand tour due to a minor knee surgery.
England ODI Squad: Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood
England T20I Squad: Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood
England will open their New Zealand tour with a T20I in Christchurch on October 18 before the ODI leg begins in Mount Maunganui on October 26. The series ends on November 1. The Ashes squad will then assemble in Perth in the second week of November, with the first Test scheduled at Optus Stadium from November 21. The series will move to Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne before concluding at the SCG in early January.
The England Lions squad, which will shadow the Ashes with fixtures in Perth, Canberra and Brisbane, is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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