England recall Jacks for Ashes as Brook named vice-captain

England named a 16-man squad for the Ashes in Australia on Sunday, handing a surprise recall to Will Jacks as a back-up spinner and naming Harry Brook as vice-captain in place of Ollie Pope. Jacks, who played two Tests in 2022, leapfrogged Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Jack Leach to provide cover for Shoaib Bashir, with England signaling flexibility in the spin department.

Brook's elevation is significant because it reopens the debate over Pope's long-term place at number three. Pope has been Ben Stokes' regular vice-captain, stepping up to lead England on five occasions, but Brook has impressed since being named white-ball captain at the start of the summer. The move also hints at a potential contest from Jacob Bethell, who has shown bite in white-ball cricket and could press for opportunities in the meantime. In a 16-man party that stresses pace, Mark Wood is included in the back-up group despite not playing a Test since August 2024 due to elbow and knee injuries. Potts secures the final specialist pace slot, joining Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue as England aim to deliver pace and bounce in Australia. Chris Woakes was not considered on fitness grounds after batting with a dislocated shoulder in the home series against India.

The presence of Stokes at the helm remains central to England's plan. The captain, who is still recovering from shoulder trouble, is expected to be fit for the Ashes opener in Perth on 21 November. The squad also features Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett at the top, with Joe Root, Brook and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith anchoring the batting, while Pope can provide back-up behind the stumps. McCullum has described Brook as an emerging leader within English cricket, and the selection suggests England will lean on experienced resilience and young leadership as they pursue a series that could define the post-World Cup era for Stokes and his team.

The selection meeting, described by McCullum as a “short” session with the identity of the second spinner the main point of debate, left leg-spinner Ahmed in contention but ultimately settled on Jacks, a player primarily known for his batting but capable with the ball as well. The decision to include Jacks adds a degree of versatility; his tall off-spin could prove advantageous on Australian surfaces, and his white-ball experience could help England navigate the turning and faster conditions they expect Down Under. The balance of the squad underscores England's intent to blend continuity with fresh leadership as they aim to end a long Australian drought.

England’s touring plans extend beyond the Ashes and include a mid-October trip to New Zealand, where a three-T20 series will be followed by three ODIs. A Lions squad will shadow the senior group in Australia and an England Lions selection will be announced later. The England ODI squad features Brook as captain for the white-ball side, with Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Luke Wood and others named across formats. In the T20s, Brook also leads a group that blends established white-ball performers with new faces, signaling England’s intent to keep players fresh across formats ahead of the five-Test Ashes campaign.

In Australia, the focus will be on keeping key players healthy through a packed schedule and managing workloads. Wood’s fitness history will be watched closely, as will Stokes’ shoulder, with both aiming to contribute across the five Tests starting in Perth. If England can maintain form and fitness, they believe they have the depth and balance required to challenge Australia for the urn in one of the sport’s most anticipated series in years.