England Reveal Ashes and NZ Tour Squads; Woakes Misses Out
England has announced its squads for a packed winter schedule, highlighted by a 16-member group for the upcoming Ashes series captained by a recovering Ben Stokes. In a significant move, Harry Brook has been appointed vice-captain for the Ashes and will also take the reins as captain for the preceding limited-overs tour of New Zealand. The squads see the return of several key players from injury, but veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes has been sidelined after dislocating his shoulder.
Stokes and Brook to Lead Ashes Charge
Ben Stokes, who is continuing his recovery from a shoulder injury, will lead England’s quest to retain the Ashes. He will be deputized by Harry Brook, who steps into the vice-captaincy role previously held by Ollie Pope.
The squad features the return of Durham pacer Matthew Potts and Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks. Potts last played Test cricket against New Zealand in December 2024, while Jacks’ last appearance was against Pakistan in December 2022. They join a formidable pace attack that includes a returning Mark Wood, who has overcome a left knee injury, and Jofra Archer, who made his Test comeback during the recent India series.
The most notable omission is Chris Woakes. The 36-year-old, who dislocated his shoulder during the Oval Test against India, will focus on rehabilitation and avoid surgery in a bid to regain fitness. His absence is a significant blow, though the squad is bolstered by the inclusion of Shoaib Bashir, who has recovered from a finger injury.
England Ashes Squad: Ben Stokes (Captain), Harry Brook (Vice-Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
New-Look White-Ball Squads for New Zealand Tour
Ahead of the Ashes, England will travel to New Zealand for a limited-overs series comprising three T20Is and three ODIs. With several Test players being managed, Harry Brook will step up to lead both white-ball teams, a significant show of faith in the young batsman’s leadership capabilities.
The T20I squad sees key players like Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, and Jamie Smith rested, presumably to keep them fresh for the Ashes. Their absence opens the door for others, most notably Zak Crawley, who earns a maiden call-up to the T20I side.
The ODI squad welcomes back all-rounder Sam Curran and spinner Liam Dawson. Pacer Luke Wood has also been included as a reward for his consistent performances in white-ball cricket. However, fast bowler Saqib Mahmood will miss the tour as he is set to undergo minor knee surgery. Several young players, including Rehan Ahmed, Jacob Bethell, Sonny Baker, and Jamie Overton, have been named across both limited-overs squads, signaling a focus on building depth.
England ODI Squad (vs New Zealand): Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.
England T20I Squad (vs New Zealand): Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.