England have announced their 16-man Test squad for this winter’s Ashes tour of Australia, with the headlines belonging to Harry Brook. The 26-year-old, already England’swhite-ball captain, has been elevated to vice-captain of the Test side, replacing Ollie Pope.
The decision, confirmed today, marks a significant shake-up in England’s red-ball leadership structure. Pope, who has deputised for Ben Stokes five times in the past 14 months, finds himself sidelined after a dip in form and mounting pressure on his No. 3 spot.
Brook’s promotion is not only a reflection of his growing stature in England cricket, but also a contingency plan. With captain Ben Stokes racing against time to be fit after a shoulder injury, Brook may be called upon to lead England in the Ashes if setbacks persist.
Perhaps the most unexpected name in the Ashes squad is Will Jacks. The all-rounder, who last played Test cricket on England’s 2022 tour of Pakistan, has been recalled as a reserve spinner behind Shoaib Bashir. Jacks has made only five first-class appearances in two years, but was picked ahead of Rehan Ahmed, who enjoyed a prolific county season, Liam Dawson, and Jack Leach.
Matthew Potts also returns to the Test fold as part of a pace-heavy squad, with Chris Woakes ruled out due to injury. Mark Wood, who missed the summer with a knee problem, has been cleared and is the only seamer in the squad with prior Ashes experience in Australia.
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Ben Stokes | Captain |
| Harry Brook | Vice-Captain |
| Jamie Smith | Wicketkeeper |
| Jofra Archer | Bowler |
| Gus Atkinson | Bowler |
| Shoaib Bashir | Bowler |
| Jacob Bethell | All-rounder |
| Brydon Carse | Bowling All-Rounder |
| Zak Crawley | Batter |
| Ben Duckett | Batter |
| Will Jacks | All-rounder |
| Ollie Pope | Batter |
| Matthew Potts | Bowler |
| Joe Root | Batter |
| Josh Tongue | Bowler |
| Mark Wood | Bowler |
The Ashes will be England’s first Test assignment since their 2–2 series split against India at home. The series kicks off on November 21 in Perth, followed by Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.
| Test Match | Dates | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Nov 21–25, 2025 | Perth | |
| 2nd Test | Dec 4–8, 2025 | Brisbane | |
| 3rd Test | Dec 17–21, 2025 | Adelaide | |
| 4th Test | Dec 25–29, 2025 | Melbourne | |
| 5th Test | Jan 3–7, 2026 | Sydney |
With Pope’s role under scrutiny, Stokes’ fitness casting a shadow over preparations, and a few surprise picks in the mix, England’s campaign is already steeped in intrigue. England have not won an Ashes series Down Under since 2010–11, but Brendon McCullum will be hoping his band of mavericks can change that this year.