Ashes 2025-26: Will Jacks in England team for second Test
Will Jacks will play his first Test in three years after England introduced the spin option for the second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.
The off-spinner replaces injured pace bowler Mark Wood in the only change from the side that was heavily defeated in the first Test in Perth.
The 27-year-old was selected ahead of Shoaib Bashir for the day-night match at the Gabba as his batting ability gives England more depth at number eight.
Jacks was included in England’s Ashes squad at left field and has the opportunity to win a third Test cap despite focusing predominantly on white-ball cricket in recent years.
The Surrey native has played just three first-class matches this year, taking five wickets in 74.1 overs.
“Everyone knows what a brilliant cricketer he is,” said England batsman and Jacks’ Surrey team-mate Ollie Pope.
“We’ve seen how he’s grown over the last few years, we’ve seen the white-ball game really progress. This is a great opportunity for his red ball as well.
“Obviously he has that spin bowling style where he can bounce around a bit and cover the pitch, then everyone saw the skills he has in the white-ball format. He can attack really well.”
Jacks, who has 60 caps in white-ball cricket, is primarily an all-round batsman but took six wickets in his first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.
Although day-night Tests are considered to suit fast bowlers, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon bowls with a better average, economy rate and strike rate with the pink ball compared to the red ball.
Referring to the “tactical element” of the day-night tests, England captain Ben Stokes drew attention to how Australia used Lyon.
“They play a lot of day-night cricket here,” Stokes said.
“How they use the spinner as an attacking option or more to get through the overs quicker to spend more time with the new ball under the lights – there are those two elements to consider.”
England squad for the second Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (week), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.
