London, Dec 2: England have turned to off-spinner Will Jacks for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, handing the 27-year-old his first red-ball appearance in three years as they look to recalibrate after the bruising defeat in Perth.
Jacks replaces injured fast bowler Mark Wood in the only change to the XI, with England opting for a spin option to balance their attack for the day-night contest at the Gabba.
His all-round ability — particularly the depth he adds at number eight — placed him ahead of fellow spinner Shoaib Bashir in selection discussions.
The Surrey all-rounder, who has spent recent seasons establishing himself as a force in white-ball cricket, has played only a handful of first-class matches this year. Yet England believe his ability to generate bounce and drift will be valuable under the Brisbane lights. Jacks made a memorable Test debut in Pakistan in 2022, claiming six wickets in Rawalpindi, and now earns the chance to add to his tally.
Meanwhile, Australia have been forced into a reshuffle at the top of the order. Veteran opener Usman Khawaja has been ruled out after failing to recover from the back spasms that hampered him in Perth. His absence means Travis Head, fresh from his match-winning hundred in the series opener, is set to continue as makeshift opener. Josh Inglis is the likely inclusion to bolster the middle order, with no new players added to the squad.
There is, however, growing intrigue around Pat Cummins’ availability. The Australian captain, who sat out the first Test with a back issue and was not named in the original squad for Brisbane, has trained strongly in recent days.
Teammate Scott Boland suggested Cummins looked “in red-hot form” in the nets and hinted that a late return remains possible.
For England, the decision to introduce a spinner in conditions widely considered to favour fast bowling also reflects the tactical nuance of day-night cricket. (Agencies)
