In a bold selection move, England have catapulted all-rounder Will Jacks into their team for the crucial second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane, preferring him to specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir.
A Surprising Call for the Gabba
The decision, confirmed on Tuesday 02 December 2025, sees the 27-year-old Jacks thrust into a high-pressure day/night encounter at the Gabba. His inclusion comes as a direct replacement for the injured paceman Mark Wood, with England opting for a slow-bowling option over reserve seamers Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts.
Jacks was initially a surprise pick for the tour itself, having last played Test cricket on the turning pitches of Pakistan three years ago and being confined to white-ball duty since. His selection ahead of Bashir, who has been England's primary spinner for much of the past two years, adds a significant tactical twist.
Why Jacks Got the Nod
The choice ultimately came down to the broader skill set Jacks offers. While Bashir, 22, has taken 68 wickets in 19 Test appearances, he is still considered a developing player. Jacks, in contrast, provides England with vastly superior batting credentials and is a sharper fielder, with his off-spin viewed as a valuable bonus.
Captain Ben Stokes and the coaching staff made their final assessment after both bowlers delivered to him under lights in the nets on Monday evening. Jacks also bolstered his case during the pre-series warm-up at Lilac Hill, where he turned out for the England Lions and claimed the prized scalps of Stokes, Joe Root, and Harry Brook.
His Test record remains modest, with six wickets on debut in Multan his only haul, and he played just three first-class matches for Surrey last summer. However, England's management sees his potential to contribute in multiple departments as critical.
The Tactical Thinking Behind the Move
Speaking before the team announcement, Stokes hinted that the role Australia's Nathan Lyon has historically played in day/night matches influenced their thinking. "Talking about the tactical element of a day/night game, you do try to look at Australia," Stokes admitted. "They play a lot of day/night cricket here, (you can see) how they use their spinner."
The primary role for Jacks' bowling is likely to be one of containment, allowing England's potent seam attack – featuring Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Stokes himself – to stay fresh for bursts with the new ball under lights.
With the bat, Jacks brings an aggressive mindset and four first-class centuries to the number eight position, lengthening England's batting order significantly. When the squad was first named, Managing Director Rob Key explained the leftfield pick: "He isn't the finished article as a spinner but he's someone who might be able to hold an end up... It's his ability to bat too, we think he's someone who's not going to be overawed."
England will hope this calculated gamble pays off as they look to level the series after a heavy two-day defeat in Perth.
