England name 12-man squad for first Ashes Test at The Gabba

Joe Root’s England have named a power-packed 12-man squad for the opening Ashes Test, starting Wednesday, December 8 at The Gabba in Brisbane. Veteran fast bowler James Anderson won’t be a part of the game after being ruled out due to a calf issue. It was the same problem that didn’t allow the experienced campaigner to play in the home Ashes back in 2019.

Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson are the three specialist fast bowlers in the squad. As per reports earlier, Woakes is most likely to partner Wood and Robinson in the pace department. The 35-year-old Broad, the Brits’ second-highest Test wicket-taker after Anderson, is not yet confirmed of a place in the final playing eleven.

Left-handed Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, who made his comeback in the India Tests earlier this year, are most likely to open the batting for the Three Lions. Jos Buttler, who was earlier apprehensive of the Ashes due to the hard quarantine rules, have also been picked.

However, wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow couldn’t make his way into the team. Jack Leach is the lone specialist spin-bowling option in the eleven apart from the part-timers of Root.

England squad

Joe Root (c), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Earlier, Australia, led by Pat Cummins, named their eleven for the Test, but Root wanted to take a closer look into the conditions before taking a final call.

“We’ve got all the options on the table (but) we’re not going to name a team just yet. We’ll have to see the closer forecast and how that pitch changes over the next couple of days,” Root was quoted as saying earlier.

“But it’s a great place to play spin. It’s something we’ll weigh up and consider, but we’re not in a position to make that call right now,” he added.

Previously, Root also lauded Anderson as one of the best in the business despite being in the wrong side of his 30s.

“One thing I will say is, you look at Jimmy’s record over the last couple of years, and it’s got better and better and better. He might be getting older, but he’s still bowling just as well, if not better,” Root had said.