England have announced their playing eleven for the second Ashes Test starting at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 4, with fast bowler Mark Wood ruled out due to a left knee injury. Wood’s absence forced England to opt for a four-pronged pace attack led by Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson, with Joe Root and will jacks Providing spin option. The selection reflects England’s intention to take advantage of the pace-friendly conditions at the Gabba despite the absence of a key fast bowler.
Mark Wood ruled out of Gabba test
Wood missed the initial training session in Brisbane due to knee pain and a medical assessment confirmed that he would miss the day-night Test. The Durham fast bowler, known for his pace and experience in Australia, had surgery at the start of the year and knew he would not play all five matches, but was expected to feature in at least some of the matches. His exclusion is a big blow as England look to bounce back after a heavy defeat in the first Test in Perth
In Wood’s absence, batting all-rounder Will Jacks, who was gaining experience with the England Lions, is set to make a Test comeback after 3 years. He last played against Pakistan in Multan in December 2022.
England are eyeing a comeback after losing the first match of the series
England is preparing to make a strong comeback after him Heavy defeat in the first Ashes test against Australia in PerthAs the series progresses, the team is focusing on regrouping and adjusting their strategies to counter Australia’s dominance,
Captain Ben Stokes has urged the team to maintain confidence, learn from the mistakes made during the Perth Test and adapt quickly to the Australian conditions. The team’s preparation has included intensive training sessions focused on exploiting the bounce and seam of the Gabba, along with tactical discussions about how to deal with the strength of the Australian batting.
England’s playing XI for Gabba Test
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk),
Gus Atkinson, Braydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Will Jacques
Also read: Ashes 2025/26 – Australia announce 14-man squad for Gabba Test, Pat Cummins still out
