England Squad for Ashes: Josh Tongue has been selected for the first two Test matches of the Ashes series against Australia. The 25-year-old Worcestershire seamer, who made his Test debut against Ireland, appears to have impressed the selectors sufficiently to save his spot in the remaining 16-man team.
Ben Foakes has once again been passed over as Jonny Bairstow has been chosen as the designated wicketkeeper following his recovery from the foot injury.
England name unchanged squad for first two Ashes tests
Squad: Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley will continue to open for England due to the unaltered roster. James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who missed the Lord’s Test against Ireland due to nagging ailments, are included in the Ashes team in place of the injured Jofra Archer, Craig Overton, Olly Stone, and Jamie Overton.
The lone backup hitter in the roster is Dan Lawrence of Essex, and the team is heavily weighted towards bowlers.
On June 16, the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston will begin, while on June 28, the second Ashes Test at Lord’s will begin.
James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who were rested for the Ireland test but are anticipated to be fit to face Australia when the first test begins at Edgbaston on June 16, were the two players that first prompted Tongue’s inclusion into the team due to injury worries.
In their lone exhibition match prior to the Ashes, England defeated Ireland at Lord’s with ease thanks in large part to three wickets on day two from Worcestershire seamer Tongue.
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