England have reshaped their bowling attack for the crucial third Ashes Test in Adelaide, bringing Josh Tongue in as a like-for-like substitution for Gus Atkinson. The move keeps Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks in his role as the team’s designated spinner, with Shoaib Bashir once again left out of the side as England makes just one change from the Brisbane defeat. Tongue’s selection signals a preference for pace and incisive rhythm at the Adelaide Oval, where a potentially batter-friendly surface could still offer pressure and movement for the bowlers.
Tongue, who took the series’ earlier India fixtures with a sharp spell of dismissals, will attempt to replicate Atkinson’s seam and pressure-building lines. Atkinson ends his England stint in this Test with three wickets at 78.66 apiece, making room for Tongue to step back into the attack. England’s starting XI for the third Test is: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.
Speaking ahead of the match, England head coach Brendon McCullum described Tongue’s strengths plainly: high pace, a fuller length that penetrates the stumps, and the ability to swing the ball both ways, including reverse swing when conditions suit. If those attributes are deemed most likely to yield success on the Adelaide surface, Tongue will earn his chance.
Shoaib Bashir remains sidelined for a second successive game despite high expectations around his development in this series, with England sticking to the one-change policy from the Brisbane defeat. The updated plans come as England attempt to salvage the series after trailing 2-0, with the third Test set to begin on Wednesday.
In other notes from team discussions, McCullum reiterated a philosophy of stability in the batting lineup for Adelaide, choosing to keep the top seven intact. Ollie Pope, who endured two tricky dismissals at The Gabba, keeps his number three spot ahead of Jacob Bethell. Only Joe Root has averaged above 30 across the first two Tests, but McCullum argued that Adelaide’s conditions should suit England’s batting approach and that the side must avoid knee-jerk changes to established lineups.
Around the wider cricket world, both England and Australia observed a moment of tribute to victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack as players returned to training at Adelaide Oval. The incident has prompted statements of support from England’s camp and remains a sobering backdrop to the series, which resumes with the third Test scheduled for Adelaide this week.
