England are staring down the barrel in this Ashes series – and they’ve just made a bold call that some fans will love and others will hate. Josh Tongue is in. Gus Atkinson is out. And with the Ashes on the line in Adelaide, every selection now feels like a statement. But here’s where it gets controversial: England have changed their bowling attack, yet stuck firmly with a misfiring top order.
England have confirmed just a single alteration to their XI for the must-win third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting Wednesday, swapping in seamer Josh Tongue for Gus Atkinson. The rest of the side that lost in Brisbane remains intact, underlining both the management’s loyalty and their gamble.
In the spin department, Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks continues as the primary slow-bowling option, keeping his spot as England’s frontline spinner. Once again, there is no place for Shoaib Bashir, whose continued omission will raise eyebrows among those who expected him to feature prominently in this series.
Atkinson has been squeezed out of the side after a difficult start to the Ashes, taking only three wickets at an average of 78.66. In his place, Tongue returns to the attack as a like-for-like seamer, tasked with bringing greater penetration and control to an England bowling unit under pressure.
Tongue’s recall is not without strong justification. He was England’s leading wicket-taker in the home series against India earlier this year and made a striking impression in his only previous Ashes appearance at Lord’s in 2023, where he claimed five wickets in the match and dismissed Steve Smith in both innings. For selectors, that kind of pedigree in big moments matters.
England XI for the third Ashes Test
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.
Brendon McCullum’s side trail 2-0 in the five-match series after heavy eight-wicket defeats in both Perth and Brisbane. England have been outplayed in all key moments so far, but the Adelaide Oval is traditionally more friendly to batters, especially early in the match. That could offer the tourists a genuine chance to hit back if they can finally post substantial first-innings runs.
Speaking on Sunday about Tongue’s likely inclusion, head coach McCullum outlined exactly why he fits the plan for Adelaide: “Everyone knows what he offers: serious pace, a tendency to hit the pitch hard from a fuller length, and the ability to swing the ball conventionally and reverse it later on. If we decide that’s the formula most likely to work in these conditions, he’ll get his opportunity.”
And this is the part most people will debate: even as Tongue comes in, Bashir is once more left on the sidelines. The 22-year-old off-spinner had long been talked about as a key part of England’s plans for this Ashes tour, yet he has now been overlooked on the quicker, bouncier surfaces in Perth and Brisbane, and again in Adelaide. Some will see this as pragmatic selection based on conditions; others will argue England are ignoring a specialist weapon they specifically brought for Australian pitches.
As McCullum hinted earlier in the week, England will go into this third Test with an unchanged top seven in the batting order. It is a match they simply must win if they are to keep any realistic hope of regaining the Ashes over the final two games, yet the coaches have resisted the temptation to reshuffle or bring in fresh batting faces.
Ollie Pope, in particular, finds himself under the spotlight. In the pink-ball Test at The Gabba, he suffered two extremely frustrating dismissals. First, he chopped on to his stumps while playing an angled-bat shot in the opening innings. Then, in the second innings, he was caught and bowled attempting an over-ambitious drive that many would describe as unnecessary in the match situation. Despite that, Pope remains locked in at No 3, keeping his place ahead of Jacob Bethell, who will have to wait longer for a chance.
A stark statistic underlines England’s batting woes: after the first two Tests, only Joe Root averages above 30 with the bat. For a side built on attacking, positive batting under McCullum and Stokes, that is a sobering reality. Even so, McCullum believes the conditions in Adelaide could finally play into his side’s hands.
“These conditions in Adelaide should suit the type of batters we have,” he said. “We’re well aware we haven’t put enough runs on the board so far in this series. We’ve found ourselves in promising positions and then let them slip through errors and poor decisions.”
However, he was quick to stress that England do not intend to abandon their trademark aggressive approach. “This isn’t about ripping up the blueprint that has brought us success over the last few years,” McCullum insisted. “It’s about doubling down with more belief and clarity. We need greater conviction, not panic.”
Then came the line that could divide opinion among fans and pundits alike: “Knee-jerk reactions or chopping and changing a settled batting line-up just isn’t our style.” For some, that sounds like admirable loyalty and long-term thinking. For others, it may feel like stubbornness in the face of clear evidence that changes might be needed.
Emotional tributes after Bondi Beach attack
Away from the on-field drama, both squads paused to acknowledge a tragedy that has shaken Australia. Following training at the Adelaide Oval on Monday, players from both Australia and England came together to pay tribute to the victims of Sunday’s terror attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, where 15 people lost their lives.
England, who are scheduled to travel to Sydney at the start of January for the fifth Ashes Test, released a public statement expressing their support and solidarity in the wake of the attack.
“Everyone in the England cricket team is deeply saddened by the horrific events at Bondi Beach last night,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends at this deeply distressing time. We stand alongside the people of Sydney, the Jewish community, and we send our heartfelt condolences to all those affected.”
England vice-captain Harry Brook also spoke openly about the impact of the news on the squad. “It was a horrendous day for everyone involved at Bondi Beach,” he said. “We’re thinking about them, about everything they went through and the horrific scenes that unfolded. We support them completely and we’re just extremely sorry for what has happened.”
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon echoed those sentiments from the home camp. “We’re extremely saddened,” he said. “It was a horrific day for everyone involved and we stand with them. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected, and we hope they can find strength to get through this.”
In moments like this, sport briefly steps back, and both teams, despite the fierce rivalry, show a united front in grief and compassion.
Ashes 2025–26: series snapshot
Australia currently lead the five-match Ashes series 2–0 and hold all the momentum.
- First Test (Perth): Australia beat England by eight wickets.
- Second Test (Brisbane): Australia beat England by eight wickets.
- Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (Adelaide).
- Fourth Test: Friday December 26 – Tuesday December 30 (Melbourne).
- Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (Sydney).
With three matches still to play, the equation for England is brutally simple: they must win in Adelaide to keep the series alive. Any other result, and the Ashes slip away again on Australian soil.
And this is where the real debate begins. Is sticking with the same top seven an act of admirable faith in a proven group, or a refusal to adapt to a series slipping out of control? Is leaving Bashir out again smart horses-for-courses selection, or a wasted opportunity to unleash a young spinner who was supposed to be central to England’s plans?
What do you think: have England got the balance right by bringing in Josh Tongue and backing their batters, or should they have been braver with more sweeping changes? Do you agree with McCullum’s refusal to make “knee-jerk” decisions, or does it feel like stubbornness at 2–0 down? Share whether you back this XI or would have picked a very different side – and why.
