England captain Ben Stokes has backed “incredibly talented” Will Jacks to shine following his surprise selection for the day-night second Ashes Test starting at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.
England were beaten by Australia inside two days in the first Test in Perth and need to avoid defeat or risk seeing their hopes of regaining the Ashes go up in smoke. In their only change, England recalled 26-year-old Jacks for his first Test since 2022 following an injury to pace bowler Mark Wood. Stokes said Jacks was preferred over fellow off-spinner Shoaib Bashir because of his ability with the bat, and said Jacks had improved since he played his two Tests in Pakistan in 2022.
Ben Stokes
All-round potential
“Since coming into the squad in Pakistan he’s turned himself into the cricketer that I always thought he could be,” Stokes said on Wednesday. “He’s incredibly talented and I think he’s gone from strength to strength since the Pakistan tour from two-and-a-half, three years ago. He’s been playing so well — it’s great for us that we’ve got someone who’s looking in pretty good order coming into a big Test match.”
Stokes would not be drawn on the prospect of Australia captain Pat Cummins making an early return from injury, as has been heavily rumoured in Australian media. The Australians will not name their team until the toss, so England will not know whether Cummins is playing until just before the start of play.
Steve Smith
Cummins may play
Meanwhile, Pat Cummins could return as captain of Australia in the second Ashes Test against England, with stand-in captain Steve Smith confirming that the pacer has a chance to make a remarkable comeback for the second pink-ball Test.
Speaking to reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday, Smith revealed Australia still hadn’t settled on a starting XI for the Gabba Test. “A heap of things are on the table. We’ll wait and see what the wicket is like and from there we’ll determine a playing XI,” Smith said.
“He’s looked pretty good to me, the way he’s bowled in the nets. Obviously games are different intensities, but he’s tracking really nicely; he knows his body well, but we’ll wait and see. He’s close; he’s done everything really well the last little bit,” Smith said.
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