Matthew Potts and Will Jacks have been recalled by the England and Wales Cricket Board in the 16-member squad for the 2025–26 Ashes series. After recovering from a knee injury, Mark Wood has returned to the national set-up for the first time since the Champions Trophy. White-ball captain Harry Brook has been named Ben Stokes’ deputy, replacing Ollie Pope.
Most players who featured in the home series against India have retained their places. Only veteran pacer Chris Woakes and Jamie Overton — who has taken a break from red-ball cricket — have been left out.
Jacks, who last played a Test in 2022, is a surprise inclusion. The spin-bowling all-rounder has been selected ahead of Jack Leach, Liam Dawson and Rehan Ahmed.
This year in the County Championship, Jacks has played only three innings, scoring 136 runs, with 119 of those coming in a single knock.
Potts has been included in a pace-heavy squad featuring the likes of Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse.
Shoaib Bashir is the lone specialist spinner, with Jacks, Jacob Bethell, and Joe Root offering additional spin options.
Ben Stokes and his team will assemble in Perth in the second week of November, with the first Ashes Test scheduled at Optus Stadium from 21 November. The series will then move on to Brisbane, Adelaide, and Melbourne, before concluding in Sydney with the traditional New Year’s Test in early January.
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
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