Will Jacks in for Mark Wood as England make one change for crucial second Ashes Test in Brisbane, Usman Khawaja out for Australia
Updated 02/12/2025 at 07:58 GMT
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Will Jacks has been selected to replace the injured Mark Wood in England's XI for the second NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test in Brisbane. Off-spinner Jacks was picked ahead of pace bowlers Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts, as well as fellow spinner Shoaib Bashir. It is the only change for the visitors as they look to level the series. The second Test begins on December 4, live on TNT Sports.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
England have made just one change for the second NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test in Brisbane as the visitors look to bounce back after losing the opener in Perth.
With pace bowler Mark Wood injured, off-spinner Will Jacks has been selected in his place.
The 27-year-old has only played two Test matches previously for England, both of which came on the tour of Pakistan in 2022, although he impressed with five wickets on his debut.
Wood was expected to miss out after skipping the first training session in Brisbane, but the inclusion of Jacks, who got the nod ahead of Shaoib Bashir, is something of a surprise.
The all-rounder has focused more on white-ball cricket in recent years, but his selection strengthens England’s batting order for the day-night match at the Gabba, which begins on December 4 and is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"It’s something I’m really looking forward to," Jacks said. "To be on an Ashes tour in the first place is something I wouldn’t have been expecting a few months ago.
"To be in the XI is a dream come true in an Ashes series away from home."
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It is perhaps a response to the opening eight-wicket Test defeat in Perth that lasted just two days.
All-out pace attack was the ploy in Perth but selectors opted against a like-for-like replacement for Wood, overlooking Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts in favour of Jacks.
England were bowled out for 172 and 164 in their two innings in Perth as Australia took a 1-0 series lead.
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The hosts will be without opener Usman Khawaja, who has been ruled out with a back injury.
Khawaja suffered back spasms in Perth but has not been replaced in the squad, while his absence also paves the way for Travis Head to open the batting and pick up where he left off after his match-winning heroics in the opening Test.
England XI
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes (c)
Jamie Smith (wk)
Will Jacks
Gus Atkinson
Brydon Carse
Jofra Archer
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes (c)
Jamie Smith (wk)
Will Jacks
Gus Atkinson
Brydon Carse
Jofra Archer
- - -
Watch and stream the 2025/26 Ashes series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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