Post by : Rameen Ariff

England have announced a single change to their playing XI ahead of the third Ashes Test against Australia, with Josh Tongue coming in to replace Gus Atkinson in the bowling attack. The decision was confirmed on Monday as England prepare to face a must-win clash at Adelaide Oval starting Wednesday.

Atkinson struggled with the ball in the opening two Tests, failing to take a wicket in Perth and conceding 151 runs in Brisbane, although he did make a valuable 37 runs in the second innings at the Gabba. The selectors opted to bring in Tongue, a right-arm seamer with a record of 31 wickets in six Test matches at an average of 30, including five wickets in his previous encounter against Australia at Lord’s in 2023. Tongue’s inclusion is seen as a like-for-like swap, aimed at strengthening England’s bowling attack without disrupting the team’s balance.

Despite England’s batting lineup underperforming throughout the series, no changes were made to the positions or personnel in the batting order. The team retains Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes as captain, Jamie Smith, and Will Jacks. Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer will support Tongue in the pace department, giving England three frontline seamers to challenge Australia on the Adelaide pitch.

The third Test represents England’s last opportunity to regain the Ashes, having lost the first two matches by eight wickets each. A victory at Adelaide Oval is crucial for England to keep their hopes alive in the series. With Tongue’s inclusion and the same batting lineup, England will rely on both their experienced players and the new bowling addition to deliver a performance capable of turning the series around.

The selection reflects England’s strategy of minimal changes while addressing specific weaknesses in their bowling, aiming to make the most of the upcoming conditions and counter Australia’s strong lineup. The focus will be on disciplined bowling, key partnerships in batting, and seizing opportunities early in the match to shift momentum in England’s favor.

This must-win encounter at Adelaide Oval is expected to be a thrilling and decisive moment in the 2025 Ashes series, as England look to bounce back and challenge Australia for the coveted urn.

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