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Silver Ferns LIVE from 7.30pmFight fire with fire: Quicks headline England’s Ashes squad
SEN • September 24th, 2025 9:20 am
England has named its 16-man Test squad for the 2025/26 Ashes series in Australia.
Ben Stokes will again captain Brendon McCullum’s team while Harry Brook has been promoted to vice-captain ahead of Ollie Pope.
Skipper Stokes is continuing to recover from a shoulder injury but should play in the 1st Test in Perth on November 21.
The English will look to fight fire with fire in bringing five quicks with them - Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and the super-quick Mark Wood who has recovered from a knee injury.
It’s a somewhat unprecedented move for the English who will bring their quickest bowling attack to Australia for some time. Given it’ll likely be a gruelling tour in the Aussie heat, there will be the opportunity to rotate.
Will Jacks has been included as a hard-hitting batting option who will act as back-up spinner behind top-line tweaker Shoaib Bashir.
The batting lineup is strong, led by Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Brook and Pope, who captained the team in Stokes’ absence against India in July.
England's Ashes squad
Ben Stokes (captain)Jofra ArcherGus AtkinsonShoaib BashirJacob BethellHarry Brook (vice-captain)Brydon CarseZak CrawleyBen DuckettWill JacksOllie PopeMatthew PottsJoe RootJamie Smith (wicketkeeper)Josh TongueMark Wood
Ashes dates
- 1st Test - November 21-25 - Optus Stadium, Perth
- 2nd Test - December 4-8 - The Gabba, Brisbane
- 3rd Test - December 17-21 - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
- 4th Test - December 26-30 - MCG, Melbourne
- 5th Test - January 4-8 - SCG, Sydney
