England have confirmed a major shake-up to their side for the must-win Third Ashes Test at Headingley, with three changes to the bowling attack and Harry Brook promoted to No3.
Spinner Moeen Ali has been recalled to the XI, with seamers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes both set to make their first appearances of the series, while Josh Tongue, James Anderson and the injured Ollie Pope miss out following the 43-run defeat at Lord’s.
Ben Stokes’s team are looking to become the first English side to come from 2-0 down to win the Ashes, while Australia are one draw away from regaining the Urn and one win from a first series victory on these shores since 2001.
England vice-captain Pope has been ruled out for the summer having dislocated his shoulder while fielding at Lord’s and rather than draft in spare batter Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have chosen to bump Brook up the order for the first time in his Test career.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable start to life in international cricket, scoring four hundreds in five Tests during the winter tours of Pakistan and New Zealand and still now averaging 67.85 despite having made only one half-century so far in this series. Those hundreds were all scored batting at No5, however, and the move is a significant gamble from England’s leadership.
In promoting Brook, Stokes and McCullum have taken the opportunity to bolster their bowling options, with all-rounders Moeen and Woakes both brought into the side.
Moeen came out of Test retirement to start the series following Jack Leach’s stress fracture but struggled with a blistered finger during his return at Edgbaston and was subsequently left out of the Second Test as England plumped for an all-seam attack at Lord’s.
Despite his excellent record on that ground, Woakes was overlooked for that match, as he had been for the one-off Test against Ireland at the start of June, leading to questions over his red-ball future.
However, the 34-year-old is now set to play his first Test of the Bazball era - and first on home soil since the summer of 2021 - with his batting at No8 helping to strengthen what was a lengthy tail at Lord’s.
Wood underwent a final fitness test on Wednesday morning ahead of his belated series bow, but that was something of a formality, the quick having been close to playing at Lord’s before it was decided he would benefit from another week of practice.
The Durham pacer will bring a much-needed point of variety to the England attack, while the return of Moeen and selection of an extra bowler in Woakes should ease concerns about the workload among England’s attack.
Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson are set to play their third Tests in a row, while Stokes’s knee continues to restrict his overs and Wood tends to bowl in short, fiery spells.
Anderson’s omission comes as no surprise, the 40-year-old having struggled for impact so far in the series with just three wickets across the first two matches. He will hope to return for the Fourth Test on his home ground, Old Trafford, later this month.
