England Name 2025/26 Ashes Squad: Brook Vice-Captain, Jacks Recalled

England have officially named their 16-man squad for the upcoming 2025/26 Ashes series in Australia, with a number of headline-grabbing and talking points emerging from the selection. Among the most notable are Harry Brook’s promotion to vice-captain (replacing Ollie Pope), the inclusion of Will Jacks in the Test fold after a long absence, and the omission of veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes following injury concerns.

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Key Inclusions & Role Shifts

One of the biggest surprises is the recall of Will Jacks, who hasn’t played a Test since 2022 but is viewed as a versatile option with both batting and off-spin skills. His selection suggests that England are keen to give themselves extra flexibility in conditions that may favour spin.

Also grabbing attention is the shift in leadership. Harry Brook will serve as vice-captain, a signal of faith in his growing status within the squad. This move was controversial among fans given Ollie Pope’s role as the incumbent No. 3 batter, but the management have defended it as a merit-based choice. Meanwhile, captain Ben Stokes is recovering from a shoulder injury and is expected to lead, though his ability to bowl initially may be limited.

The pace attack has been bolstered with Mark Wood making a return despite recovery from a knee surgery, and Jofra Archer has also been included in the squad, offering England a potent bowling arsenal. On the spin front, Shoaib Bashir is back from injury after fracturing a finger in the India Tests, enhancing England’s spin depth.

England Ashes 2025/26 Squad

Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.