Josh Tongue is all set to play his first Test in Australia after being named in England’s playing XI for the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, which begins on December 17. Gus Atkinson makes way for Tongue, the only change in the team for what is set to be a virtual series decider.
After managing just three wickets in the first two Tests at a poor average of 78.66, Atkinson has been dropped.
Tongue, who made his Ashes debut in 2023, has been preferred to Matthew Potts and Matthew Fisher, the other two pace-bowling options in the squad. The Adelaide Test will mark Tongue’s first appearance for England since the fifth Test against India at The Oval in July earlier this year.
The 28-year-old pacer has taken 31 wickets in the six Tests he has played so far. In his only Ashes appearance, he claimed five wickets.
Shoaib Bashir, England’s first-choice specialist spinner, has been overlooked, with Will Jacks retaining his spot after showing fight alongside captain Ben Stokes in the third innings of the Brisbane Test. Even though the Adelaide pitch is expected to aid spin, the visitors have decided against selecting Bashir. Jacks and Joe Root will share the spin-bowling duties.
Root is the only England batter averaging more than 30 in the series. Jacob Bethell will have to wait for his first Ashes appearance, as England have made no changes to their batting core.
England’s XI for Adelaide Test:
1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt) 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Will Jacks, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Josh Tongue
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