Ollie Pope out, RCB ace in: Probable changes England should make for 3rd Ashes Test vs AUS

Changes England must make for 3rd Test [Source: AFP Photo]

England were confident heading into the 5-match Ashes Test series against Australia, but all that confidence was taken down inside two games as the Australian side, without their regular captain, Pat Cummins, have won the first two Test matches and lead the series, 2-0, as the visitors will have to win three in a row to win the Ashes urn.

Barring a couple of key performances, the England side has been a disappointment as they have hardly posed a challenge for the hosts. The batters have failed to adjust to the Australian conditions, and the bowlers have done well in patches, but have failed to hit the consistency mark. 

With three matches left and each one being crucial, England need to drop the underperformers from the side and here are the players who should be shown the exit door for the next Test in Adelaide.

1) Ollie Pope

Ollie Pope was never known for his consistency, but this Australian tour has exposed his technical weaknesses as Mitch Starc and company have exploited them to perfection. Nothing has gone right for England’s number 3 as the batter looks lost against a quality bowling attack, and the stats from the first two Tests tell the story.

(Pope runs in current AUS tour)

• Just 105 runs in four innings with an average of 26 define Pope’s journey so far in the Ashes 2025-26. On England’s flat wickets (as they prepare now), Pope’s weaknesses were overshadowed as the wickets suited England’s aggressive Bazball style of play.
• However, in tough conditions, the Surrey batter has struggled to score runs and this trend has been going on for a long time.
• Even against a depleted Indian attack during the home summer, he averaged just 34 as the Indian bowlers, too, exposed his weakness (the incoming deliveries).

Who can replace Pope

Jacob Bethell is warming the bench as the talented English player should be given a chance to prove his worth at number 3. He has just 260 runs in just six innings at 3, with an average of 52 as the batter has way better numbers than Pope at the same position.

2) Gus Atkinson

Atkinson had a great debut year in 2024, as he enjoyed bowling in English conditions. But the right-arm pacer was given a reality check during the ongoing Australian tour as the pacer has struggled to get his lines and lengths correct and has been taken to the cleaners by the hosts.

(Atkinson in Ashes 2025)

• 4 innings, just 2 wickets, and an average of 78, Gus Atkinson has produced shocking numbers on bowling-friendly decks. Both the surfaces in Perth and at the Gabba favoured the bowlers, but Atkinson had little to no effect as the Aussies played him rather easily.

Who could replace Atkinson?

Not playing Shoab Bashir in Perth and Brisbane was still acceptable, but the next Test takes place in Adelaide, and that is the only venue where spinners come into play. As a matter of fact, in the history of Tests played in Adelaide, Nathan Lyon, the spin bowler, holds the record of taking most wickets.

Judging by the track record, England should go ahead with Bashir as he could be the one to replicate what Lyon does for Australia.

England's probable XI for 3rd Ashes Test

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Will Jacks, Shoaib Bashir, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer

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