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England playing XI for 3rd Ashes Test vs Australia revealed; Josh Tongue returns

Debashis Sarangi

ENG have confirmed their XI for 3rd Test [Source: AFP]ENG have confirmed their XI for 3rd Test [Source: AFP]

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), on Monday, announced England's playing XI for the third Ashes Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. The visitors have dropped Gus Atkinson for the crucial face-off, bringing in Josh Tongue as his replacement. 

Atkinson out; Tongue in ENG XI for 3rd Ashes Test vs Australia

Gus Atkinson looked out of sorts as he was all over the place in the previous Ashes fixture between England and Australia in Brisbane. Overall, the right-arm speedster has had an utterly disappointing Ashes campaign so far, managing only three wickets at a horrendous strike rate of 108 and an economy of 4.37. 

The fast bowler's underwhelming returns must've played a significant role in his exclusion from the English playing XI for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide. Josh Tongue, who didn't get an opportunity in Perth and Brisbane, enters the side as Atkinson's replacement. 

England's playing XI for 3rd Test of Ashes 2025-26

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, ⁠Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue

The in-form Zak Crawley and Joe Root will spearhead the English batting unit, while the out-of-form trio of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook has maintained its place in the playing XI. Despite earning massive scrutiny for benching their frontline spinner, England have once again persisted with Will Jacks, prioritising batting depth to outsmart the Australians. 

Talking about Josh Tongue, the right-arm speedster has played six Tests, scalping 31 wickets at an impressive strike rate of 44.1. His last Test appearance came during the home summer when England took on India at the Oval. 

Being a genuine swing bowler, Tongue definitely adds a different dimension to England's bowling attack. However, it remains to be seen if he gets his line and length right on the bouncy Australian decks, something none of the English pacers, apart from Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes, have managed to do so far.