Will Jacks will play his first Test in three years after England included a spin option for the second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.
The off-spinner takes the place of injured bowler Mark Wood in the only change for the heavily beaten side in the first Test in Perth.
The 27-year-old is selected ahead of Shoaib Bashir for the day-night match at the Gabba, partly because his batting ability offers England more depth at number eight.
Meanwhile, Australia opener Usman Khawaja has been ruled out of the pink-ball Test at the Gabba after failing to recover from back spasms he suffered in Perth.
The 38-year-old’s absence paves the way for Travis Head to continue opening the batting after his winning century in the first Test.
Australia have not called up a replacement for their team, meaning either Leeds-born batsman Josh Inglis or all-rounder Beau Webster will make the squad.
Jacks was an inclusion at left field in England’s Ashes team and has a chance to earn a third Test cap despite focusing heavily on white-ball cricket in recent years.
The Surrey man has played just three first-class matches this year, taking five wickets in 74.1 overs.
“Everyone knows what a brilliant cricketer he is,” said England batsman and Jacks’ Surrey teammate Ollie Pope.
“The way he’s grown over the last few years, we’ve seen his white-ball game really come forward. It’s a great opportunity for his red-ball as well.
“He’s obviously got that style of spin bowling where he can bounce and get out of the field, then everyone has seen the skills he has in the white-ball format. He can take on a really good attack.”
Jacks, who has 60 caps in white-ball cricket, is primarily an all-round batsman but claimed six wickets on his Test debut against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.
Although day and night Tests are perceived to be suitable for fast bowlers, Australian bowler Nathan Lyon has a better average, economy rate and strike rate in bowling with a pink ball compared to the red one.
Referring to the “tactical element” of the day-night Tests, England captain Ben Stokes pointed out how Australia uses Lyon.
“There’s a lot of day and night cricket played here,” Stokes said.
“How they use their spinner as an attacking option, or more to get through the overs quicker and get more time with the new ball under the lights – there are both elements to consider.”
England squad for second Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.





























