England Name 12-Man Squad for First Ashes Test in Perth

The England cricket team have named their 12-man squad for the opening Test of the 2025/26 Ashes, set to begin this Friday at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

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England 12-Player Squad:

Ben Stokes (C), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Mark Wood.

What This Selection Signals

Balanced attack with pace depth: The inclusion of Archer, Atkinson, Carse and Wood shows England are ready to exploit pace-friendly conditions in Perth. Archer’s return is a headline, but the younger Atkinson and Carse offer fresh threat.

Spin seldom ignored: Shoaib Bashir’s retention points to England acknowledging they’ll need variation, even in traditionally fast Australian venues, and to plan for middle overs with control.

Top-order stability and flexibility: With Root, Brook, Crawley and Duckett occupying batting slots, the selection blends experience with aggression. Jamie Smith’s wicket-keeper batting role offers additional depth.

Middle overs and adaptability: Joe Root brings the anchoring presence; Brook provides flair. The back-up options suggest England want flexibility to shift gears depending on match situation and pitch behaviour.