White-ball expert Will Jacks gets Ashes nod over traditional spinners! Genius or gamble?

Will Jacks recalled into England's Test squad for Ashes [Source: @MIPaltanFamily/X.com]

England unveiled their squad for the prestigious Ashes 2025-26 series earlier this week. Ben Stokes has been named captain, but the selection of white-ball specialist Will Jacks has baffled the fans.

Since the Australian pitches are a paradise for fast bowlers, England went with a pace-heavy lineup led by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. However, for spin options, only Shoaib Bashir has been added as a traditional spinner.

England ignored the likes of Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and even Jack Leach to draft all-rounder Will Jacks, a move causing uproar on social media.

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Revisiting Will Jacks’ red-ball numbers

(Table: Will Jacks' red-ball stats)

Will Jacks, a batting all-rounder, will be England’s second spin option at the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 series. Widely judged as a white-ball specialist for his power-hitting skills, Jacks’ call-up made little sense to the fans.

He has played only 2 Tests till now, scoring 89 runs. The 26-year-old’s last Test appearance was in 2022, where he picked up a 6-wicket-haul against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

Regarding his first-class career, Jacks has featured in 57 games for Surrey with 2591 runs (4 hundreds) and 49 wickets. These figures are respectable, but not comparable to those records of Jack Leach (142 Test wickets), Liam Dawson (372 first-class wickets), or Rehan Ahmed (22 Test wickets).

How will a white-ball specialist, Will Jacks, fit into the Ashes squad?

So now the burning question is what England saw in Will Jacks?

• Pitch Conditions: For starters, pitches in Australia won’t be kind to spinners. One traditional spinner in Shoaib Bashir will be more than enough to cater to Ben Stokes’ needs while rotating bowlers. Secondly, Jacks’ batting style perfectly fits into England’s ‘Bazball’ approach. His addition will extend the batting depth and allow more cushion for the top order to play their natural game.
• Workload management: With Ben Stokes’ fitness being a concern, his workload needs to be managed. Hence, he won’t be bowling as much as he did against India in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy. This is where Will Jacks comes in. He can chip in a few overs to allow rest to the frontline pacers.
• No help for spinners in Down Under: Also, overseas spinners have an average of over 63 in Australian conditions, meaning playing 2 traditional spinners makes little sense. Hence, England have chosen to strengthen their batting depth and accommodate a strong bat in the top 6.
• Remarkable stint with Surrey: Will Jacks may be a white-ball specialist, but he is no stranger to being a front-line spinner if needed. In the 2022 County Championship, he bowled more than 250 overs for Surrey as their primary spinner, leading the club to a title.
• Perfect balance: Also, Jacks' off-spin bowling provides a contrasting style to Shoaib Bashir, giving a mixed spin attack. His height and overspin are prized assets on Australia's hard decks, giving a different angle and bounce than a conventional spinner.

Conclusion

That being said, Will Jacks’ Ashes call-up is a gamble. Irrespective of the strategic thinking, the pressure of the Ashes can eat up any player, experienced or rookie. Moreover, making a Test comeback after over 2 years is not easy, and the adaptability factor will come into play.

Regardless, England’s approach now appears to be aligned with the kind of brand of cricket they want to play. Whether this gamble pays off will be closely watched, but it clearly signals England’s intent to innovate and take calculated risks in pursuit of Ashes glory.

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