England Announces Playing XI for Gabba Test, Will Jacks Replaces Injured Mark Wood for Ashes 2025-26 Match

On Tuesday, December 2, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the playing XI of the England cricket team for the second Ashes Test 2025-26. England will play against Australia in the second Test of the five-match Ashes series at The Gabba in Brisbane, starting Thursday, December 4.

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England Founded: 1739

England is regarded as the birthplace of cricket and has won the Ashes 32 times.

England Names Playing XI for Gabba Test, Will Jacks takes over for Injured Mark Wood

Despite losing the first Test at Perth, the England team has kept most of the same players for the second match. The only change is that spinning all-rounder Will Jacks will play in place of the injured Mark Wood.

Will Jacks has already played a few Test matches for England. He has scored 89 runs and taken 6 wickets so far. In the batting line-up, Zak Crawley will open with Ben Duckett. Ollie Pope and Joe Root will bat at No.3 and No.4.

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Australia Founded: 1877

The Australian cricket team is the joint oldest team in Test cricket history and has a tremendous record in one-dayers, having won more than 60% of the matches they have played.

Vice-captain Harry Brook will bat at No.5, followed by captain Ben Stokes, wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith, and all-rounder Will Jacks. The three main fast bowlers for the match will be Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer.

England XI for Gabba Test vs Australia:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer

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by Shekhar December 2, 2025