England have axed Rehan Ahmed and Matty Potts from their squad for the third Ashes Test at Headingley, which starts on Thursday.
England go into the game at Leeds needing to win to keep their slim hopes of regaining the Ashes on home soil alive. The hosts suffered a second successive defeat to Australia at Lord's on Sunday, despite captain Ben Stokes scoring a magnificent 155.
Australia's most recent win was controversial due to Jonny Bairstow's dismissal. Bairstow was stumped from distance by wicketkeeper Alex Carey in the run chase, despite the batter assuming the ball was dead. Australia's tactics were widely criticised.
As the Aussies also won the first Test at Edgbaston, they need just one more victory to retain the Ashes and secure a first series triumph in England for 22 years. As for England, they must win at Headingley, Old Trafford and Lord's to regain the Ashes.
Stokes' side have named a 15-player squad for the third Test, with Ahmed and Potts dropping out. Ahmed's exclusion means Moeen Ali is England's only spin option at Headingley. It's safe to assume the veteran is now fully fit after his finger injury.
The dropping of Potts suggests Mark Wood or Chris Woakes will come into the XI at Headingley. England are almost certain to rotate their attack to manage Jimmy Anderson's, Stuart Broad's and Ollie Robinson's workload. Those three played in the first two Tests.
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Anderson turns 41 at the end of July, while Broad recently celebrated his 37th birthday. Anderson seems the most likely to miss out at Headingley after two unthreatening performances at Edgbaston and Lord's. Robinson has also failed to show his best so far.
Wood is England's quickest - but most fragile - bowler. Stokes admitted he wanted to play Wood at Lord's ahead of the second Test and will be hoping he is available for Headingley. Potts' exclusion suggests Wood might just take part.
Stokes said: "We wanted to play Mark Wood. We felt that he could definitely start the game, but with conversations we felt the extra week of build-up and getting his loads up would give him a better chance and an opportunity to play a full part from Leeds onwards."
Woakes has a superb record in England and will be raring to go after missing the first Two Tests. Josh Tongue picked up five wickets at Lord's - dismissing key batters Usman Khawaja, David Warner twice and Steve Smith twice - and should continue at Headingley.
In terms of the batting, England are unlikely to make any changes. Essex star Dan Lawrence is in the squad but will only play if a middle-order batter pulls out on the eve of the Test. England can still add players to their squad between now and Thursday.
Australia are yet to name their XI for the Headingley Test, but it's unlikely Nathan Lyon will play after he suffered a calf injury at Lord's. Todd Murphy, an upcoming 22-year-old off-spinner from Victoria, will come into the XI if they want to play a specialist spinner.
