Josh Tongue Regains Spot As England Announce Squad for First Two Ashes Tests
The season of Test cricket has arrived, and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has finally announced the much-anticipated squad to take on Australia in the first two Test matches of the Ashes 2023. Led by Ben Stokes - under the Bazball approach, England will look to regain their pride, which they lost the last time when they faced their greatest nemesis in the longest format of the game.
England have gone with the same set of members that are part of the 16-player squad in the ongoing one-off Test match against Ireland at the Lord's Cricket Ground.
Josh Tongue Regains Spot
England have made no surprise changes or exclusion to their lineup, apart from naming the one-Test-old Josh Tongue. The Worcestershire-based impressed various pundits with his burst against the Irish in the second innings to snap three wickets with his hit-the-deck bowling on Day 2. The right-armer is looked at as a replacement for Jofra Archer, who could bowl at hard lengths on unresponsive decks.
As mentioned by head coach Brendon McCullum, the likes of James Anderson and Ollie Robinson will be fit before the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on June 16. Apart from them, the Three Lions will have Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, and Jack Leach in the bowling arsenal.
No signs of Ben Foakes
Meanwhile, in the batting department, the usual names have found places for themselves, as it seems that the selectors have moved on from the specialist wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who lost on favours as soon as Jonny Bairstow got match fit.
England's Squad for First Two Ashes Tests
Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
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