Josh Tongue will replace England pacer Gus Atkinson in the third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide, which begins on Wednesday, as the visitors try to salvage the series.
With off-spinning all-rounder Will Jacks maintaining his position ahead of Shoaib Bashir, it was their sole alteration for a crucial game. Atkinson was hammered for 236 with only three wickets to show for his struggles in eight-wicket losses at Perth and Brisbane. In the first Test, he was wicketless.
Tongue of Nottinghamshire will play his seventh Test to support a pace attack spearheaded by captain Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse, who was pricey at the Gabba. It was surprising that Bashir was left out for a third consecutive Test.
Prior to the tour, he was regarded as England’s top spinner; but, in an all-pace attack for Perth, he was ignored, and Jacks was selected in Brisbane. At the Gabba, Jacks bowled just 11.3 overs, taking 1-34, but he was composed with the bat, hitting a tough 41 in the second innings during a 96-run partnership with Stokes.
With two Tests remaining, England need to win to prevent a devastating series loss, and spin is expected to play a part in Adelaide due to the severe temperatures predicted during the Test.
Ollie Pope, who was underperforming, was given another chance at number three instead of Jacob Bethell as England continued to have faith in their struggling top seven.
In the first two Test matches against an attack spearheaded by Mitchell Starc, who has already claimed 18 wickets, only Joe Root has an average above 30. Australia will benefit from the return of captain and pace spearhead Pat Cummins.
England team: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
