England have stuck with their underperforming batters making just one change for Adelaide, Josh Tongue coming in for fellow seamer Gus Atkinson. Tongue is quick with a habit of rolling over tailenders, and has twice dismissed Steve Smith, but can be wayward.
There is no place for Shoaib Bashir despite England spending two years readying the novice spinner for this Test. With Bashir struggling for form part-timer Will Jacks, who is a better batter and fielder, has been preferred.
“It’s going to be disappointing for Bash. We just feel having Jacksy down at No.8 strengthens our batting a little bit,” said Stokes.
Australia’s spin star Nathan Lyon, who will be recalled, said, “I would be surprised if their No.1 spinner’s not playing, but Jacks, I thought he played a pretty decent role up in Brisbane in the opportunity that he had.”
“We’ve had to make some big decisions and big calls over recent times to get the team that we felt was going to give us the best chance,” added Stokes, “and that’s what we’ve gone with.”
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
