Broad in but no Wood as England name XI for first Ashes Test

The big news is that Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson and James Anderson make up the pace attack, with Mark Wood’s pace left out on this occasion.

Moeen Ali makes his return as the spinning all-rounder, Jonny Bairstow keeps wicket and the top six remain unchanged from England’s recent favoured batting order.

England captain Ben Stokes had previously stated that he wanted the option of high pace in his attack where possible throughout the Ashes.

But, with Jofra Archer and Ollie Stone ruled out through injury and just Mark Wood available as an out-and-out pace-merchant in the squad, England have gone instead with their three leading pace-bowling wicket takers from the last ICC World Test Championship Cycle.

And the news means that Josh Tongue, who took a five-wicket haul on his debut against Ireland last time out, drops out of the XI, as does Matthew Potts.

Anderson, Robinson and Broad took a combined 147 wickets for England in that cycle, while Broad’s terrific record at home against Australia, where he has taken 84 wickets in 20 Tests at an average of 26.19, has earned him the nod first up. Rotation of the attack is expected throughout the remainder of the five-Test series.

More positive news for England’s bowling hopes came on Wednesday morning when Ben Stokes bowled a high-pace spell in the nets, allaying some fears over his fitness going into Friday’s first day.

And Moeen Ali’s return to the England Test set-up came in the last week following the injury to Jack Leach, with the 36-year-old set to play his first red-ball game in international cricket since September 2021.

The one-word message that lured Moeen Ali out of retirement

Jonny Bairstow was always expected to keep wicket having been picked ahead of Ben Foakes for the squad.

And Bairstow – who was named in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year for 2022 due to his efforts with the bat – made it through the Ireland Test at Lord’s relatively unscathed to set himself up for a second international appearance since breaking his leg in September of last year.

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonathan Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

First Test: June 16 - June 20, Edgbaston
Second Test: June 28 - July 2, Lord’s
Third Test: July 6 - July 10, Headingley
Fourth Test: July 19 - July 23, Old Trafford
Fifth Test: July 27 - July 31, The Oval