Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are back in the England Ashes squad as they recover from injuries. The five-Test series starts in Australia in November. Chris Woakes is out with a shoulder injury he picked up in the last Test against India at The Oval.
Stokes was out of the fifth Test against India in August with a shoulder issue, but should be ready for the first Test in Perth on November 21. Wood, who had knee surgery, is in after missing England’s summer Tests. Archer is back after doing well in the India series.
The selectors have made Harry Brook vice-captain, taking over from Ollie Pope. Shoaib Bashir, who hurt his finger in the India series, is also in. Matthew Potts and Will Jacks complete the 16-man squad. Jacks should be good to go for the Ashes after sitting out the recent series against New Zealand.
Woakes is opting for rehab over surgery to get back fit.
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Potts hasn’t played a Test since December 2024 against New Zealand, but has been in form this season with 28 wickets in 10 County Championship games, including 4 for 84. Will Jacks has also been playing well, scoring 136 runs in three innings. The squad has a mix of experience and youth with Stokes, Joe Root, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope leading the way, and Jamie Smith on wickets. Archer will lead the pace attack with Carse, Atkinson, Tongue, Wood and Potts, and Bashir is the main spinner with Root, Jacob Bethell and Jacks as back-ups.
Woakes hurt his shoulder on day one of the fifth Test against India and batted on the last day with his left arm in a sling. But he hasn’t been picked for the squad and is focusing on rehab instead of surgery, hoping to come back stronger. He told Sky Sports, “I’m going to stay focused on the rehab and get it as strong as possible. Ideally no surgery for now, but we’ll see how it goes and hopefully get it strong again.”
England Announces Squad for Ashes 2025-26
Stokes, Archer, Atkinson, Bashir, Bethell, Brook, Carse, Crawley, Duckett, Jacks, Pope, Potts, Root, Smith, Tongue, Wood
