England draft in Tongue, resist spin option for Adelaide Ashes Test

England have named fast bowler Josh Tongue in place of Gus Atkinson for the third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide, opting for extra pace and wicket-taking threat rather than selecting specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir on what is expected to be the most spin-friendly surface of the tour.

Trailing 2–0 in the series, England were widely expected to make changes for Wednesday’s must-win encounter. However, after head coach Brendon McCullum publicly backed his underperforming top order, captain Ben Stokes has made just one alteration to the XI, with Atkinson the sole omission.

Atkinson has endured a difficult tour, returning just three wickets at an average of 78.66 from 54 overs. His pace has dropped noticeably, limiting his effectiveness, with his first wicket of the series not arriving until the final ball of his 41st over.

Tongue, 28, offers a more attacking option. He will earn his seventh Test cap since debuting in 2023, having taken 31 wickets at an average of 30. His inclusion reflects England’s belief that Adelaide’s surface will reward bowlers capable of producing decisive, unplayable deliveries.

The seamer has previous success against Australia, having taken five wickets in the Lord’s Test during the last Ashes series, including dismissing Steven Smith twice. Tongue has removed Smith four times across formats and competitions, including in county cricket and The Hundred.

Tongue’s most recent Test appearance came against India at the end of the English summer, when he claimed 5 for 125 and finished as England’s leading wicket-taker in that series with 19 wickets despite playing only three matches. His effectiveness against the lower order was also a factor in his recall, following England’s struggles to dismiss Australia’s tail at the Gabba, where the final four wickets added 182 runs.

Despite limited success in tour matches so far, including a wicketless spell against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, England are confident Tongue can make an impact in Adelaide.

More striking, however, is England’s decision to overlook Bashir. The 22-year-old offspinner has been a long-term project under Stokes, who had previously installed him as the team’s first-choice spinner ahead of Jack Leach. Bashir has taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at an average of 39.00 but has struggled recently, including expensive outings in warm-up fixtures.

While Stokes has publicly backed Bashir, England have instead retained allrounder Will Jacks as their spin option. Jacks impressed in the second Test with economical bowling and valuable lower-order runs, strengthening his case for selection.

Australia are expected to recall Nathan Lyon, adding further intrigue to England’s decision to persist without a frontline spinner.

England are likely to open the bowling with Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse as they seek to keep the Ashes alive.

England XI for the third Test, Adelaide:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.