England great urges former team to make bold selection call

Ex-England captain Michael Atherton wants to see his former team change their tact at selection and include spinning all-rounder Will Jacks for the crucial second Ashes Test against Australia.

England failed to include a first-choice spinner in their XI as they lost the opening match of the five-game ICC World Test Championship series inside two days in Perth and need to bounce back quickly in Brisbane for the second Test that commences at the Gabba on Thursday.

While off-spinner Shoaib Bashir appears the most likely player to push for selection for the second Test, Atherton wants to see England make a bold play and include Jacks in their final XI.

Jacks has played just twice at Test level with his most recent appearance coming against Pakistan in 2022, but Atherton believes the 27-year-old should be considered for the Gabba contest given his proficiency with both bat and ball.

“There may still be periods where the bat dominates, which is why a spinner should remain under serious consideration,” Atherton wrote in England newspaper The Times.

“If so then who should it be? Shoaib Bashir or Will Jacks? England tend to stay loyal and Bashir was in the XII for Perth, but Jacks should come into consideration, as he offers insurance with both bat and ball.

“Jacks has played only two Tests and was a surprise inclusion for this Ashes tour, but he may well have been picked with this one match in mind. I would pick him over Bashir.”

Back-up quick Josh Tongue is waiting in the wings should England decided to opt for a like-for-like replacement for injured speedster Mark Wood, while selectors will also consider which players have previously performed well using the pink-ball under day-night conditions.

Traditionally it has been the fast bowlers that have dominated pink-ball Test matches in Australia and England pacer Brydon Carse suggested selectors have some plans in place for the expected conditions the team will face in Brisbane.

"We've spoken with the guys who have played some pink-ball games, and had a look at some of the pink-ball games that have been played in Australia in the past four or five years," Carse said.

"On an evening, it does seem to do a little bit more, especially if you have a slightly newer ball, which I'm sure we'll take into consideration throughout the game. It's going to be exciting. I'm expecting a massive crowd, a hostile crowd. The guys are really looking forward to it.

"I think looking back at a couple of highlights of previous games played in Australia, it's certainly very admirable how their new-ball bowling goes. You know, they strike early and I think that's going to be important, whether that's certain lines we'll be bowling or maybe bowling a touch fuller to let it swing.

"They've played some really good cricket with a pink-ball. So, yeah, I'd like to say that we've had a look at some of the stuff that they've done over the previous years."

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

Series schedule:

First Test: Perth Stadium, November 21-25 (Australia won by eight wickets)
Second Test: Gabba, December 4-8
Third Test: Adelaide Oval, December 17-21
Fourth Test: MCG, December 26-30
Fifth Test: SCG, January 4-8