For one of the most-anticipated Ashes series in years, and probably England’s best chance of winning away since they last triumphed in Australia in 2010-11, they will now hope they can keep their players fit across the five Tests.Of most importance will be Stokes, who has not completed any of England’s past four Test series. His heavy workload in the India series resulted in the shoulder injury.Stokes and Wood are the only two bowlers in England’s squad to have played a Test in Australia before.Wood, 35, has a chequered injury history, though England’s fastest bowler changed the course of the last Ashes series in the UK in 2023, when the home side came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.He initially suffered an elbow injury in the summer of 2024. When he made his comeback to play in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery. Wood initially targeted the end of the India series to return, only for that to gradually be pushed back. By the time of the Ashes opener, Wood will not have played a Test for 15 months.Wood’s Durham team-mate Potts comes back in after not playing a Test this year. The 26-year-old benefits from the injury to Woakes and the red-ball retirement of Jamie Overton.Even before the injury, it was not a given that Woakes would be included given his previous poor record in Australia. He opted against surgery and a lengthy rehab period on his left shoulder in a bid to be fit for the Ashes, but is not being risked. At 36, he seems likely to miss out on a new central contract and could have made his last England appearance.Overton played in the final Test against India and his hit-the-deck style of bowling was seen as suited to Australia. However, injuries have limited him to five first-class matches in two years and he has opted to pause his red-ball career. Overton will be in Australia playing in the Big Bash for Adelaide Strikers.The tour of New Zealand begins on 18 October, with three T20s followed by three one-day internationals.Crawley is named in the T20 squad and could make his international debut in that format. Brook, Bethell and Carse are the only other members of the Test squad in the T20 party, with Duckett, Smith and Archer rested.The one-day squad is full strength, with call-ups given to Dawson, Sam Curran and Luke Wood.A Lions squad to shadow the senior group in Australia will be announced at a later date.
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Ashes 2025: England pick Will Jacks in squad to play Australia
