England Make Only Change in Ashes, Josh Tongue Included in Playing XI

For the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, England have made just one change to their playing XI. They have dropped Gus Atkinson and brought in Josh Tongue. Although Adelaide’s pitch is spin-friendly and it was expected that Shoaib Bashir might feature in the XI, England’s inclusion of Tongue indicates a focus on pace bowling over spin.

England are currently 2-0 down against Australia in the Ashes. The 28-year-old Josh Tongue has played seven Tests for England and was the team’s leading wicket-taker in the series against India, claiming 19 wickets in three matches. Tongue is particularly expected to help England dismiss Australia’s tail-enders, something the team failed to do in the previous Test.

Although Tongue made his Test debut for England in 2023, he has not played regularly since. However, in the matches he has played, he has proven his ability. So far, in six Tests, he has taken 31 valuable wickets, showcasing his pace-bowling skills.

These statistics demonstrate how effective Josh Tongue can be in crucial moments. This is why England’s team management has placed their trust in this talented pacer for this do-or-die match, aiming to strengthen the bowling attack and boost their chances of victory against their opponents.
England’s Playing XI:Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue