The Ashes: Will Jacks replaces Mark Wood as England name team for second Test against Australia in Brisbane
England have named Will Jacks in their team for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, with the all-rounder replacing Mark Wood in the only change from the team that lost the series opener in Perth.Wood had been expected to miss out after skipping England's first training session in Brisbane due to an issue with his left knee, but the selection of Jacks could be seen as a surprising move.
The off-spinner, who will bat at No 8 in the order, has played only two Test matches, both coming on the 2022 tour of Pakistan in which he claimed a five-for on debut.
Jacks' selection means that England have resisted the urge to again select an all-pace attack like at Perth, with Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts overlooked.
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England have resisted the urge to pick pace bowler Josh Tongue for the second Ashes Test
England's two spare seamers featured in the Lions' two-day match against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra, where Tongue went wicketless in 16 overs and Potts claimed 2-40 from the same allotment.
The selection of Jacks over front-line spinner Shoaib Bashir also strengthens the England batting order in response to their defeat inside two days in the first Test.
England were bowled out for 164 in their second innings following a startling collapse of 6-39, having been 65-1 - with a lead of 105 - at lunch on the second day. Travis Head then smashed a 69-ball hundred to fire Australia to an eight-wicket victory in pursuit of 205 to win.
On day one in Perth, England had been skittled for 172 and then reduced Australia to 123-9 as the series opened with 19 wickets falling in a day.
England Test captain Ben Stokes said his side are desperate to avenge their "rubbish" first Test performance in Perth as they prepare for the day-night second Test in Brisbane, which starts on Thursday."They [England fans] want to see us win, we want to win, we're absolutely desperate," Stokes said. "They're absolutely desperate. We're all on the same wavelength.
"We know that there'll be a lot of disappointed fans in England after that first defeat. But it's a five-game series, we've got four games to go. We've lost the first one - we're absolutely desperate to come home with that goal from before we even started the series, which is to win the Ashes."England XI for second Test: 1) Zak Crawley, 2) Ben Duckett, 3) Ollie Pope, 4) Joe Root, 5) Harry Brook, 6) Ben Stokes (c), 7) Jamie Smith (wkt), 8) Will Jacks, 9) Gus Atkinson, 10) Brydon Carse, 11) Jofra ArcherAshes series in Australia 2025-26All times UK and IrelandFirst Test (Perth - November 21-25): Australia beat England by eight wicketsSecond Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 - Monday December 8 (4.30am) - The Gabba, BrisbaneThird Test: Wednesday December 17 - Sunday December 21 (12am) - Adelaide OvalFourth Test: Thursday December 25 - Monday December 29 (11.30pm) - Melbourne Cricket GroundFifth Test: Sunday January 4 - Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) - Sydney Cricket Ground
