England have made a decisive change to their Ashes squad ahead of the third Test in Adelaide, dropping pacer Gus Atkinson and selecting towering fast bowler Josh Tank in his place. Atkinson, who featured in England’s first two Tests, struggled to make an impact, claiming just three wickets in four innings across 54 overs while conceding 236 runs—the poorest return among England’s bowlers so far this series.
With the Adelaide pitch widely regarded as the most spin-friendly of the five-Test Ashes series, questions naturally arose over Atkinson’s inclusion. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed today that Atkinson would be left out of the playing eleven, replaced by the 6-foot-4 Tank, a right-arm pacer known for his height, bounce, and ability to generate pace from the surface. This adjustment represents England’s sole change for the upcoming encounter.
Some observers have expressed surprise over the continued omission of off-spinner Shoaib Bashir. Conditions in Perth and Brisbane, where England suffered heavy eight-wicket defeats in the first two Tests, did not favour spin, limiting opportunities for Bashir. Similarly, Australia initially restricted the use of their premier off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who bowled just two overs in Perth and did not feature in Brisbane. Lyon is expected to play in Adelaide, a ground where he holds a remarkable 63-Test wicket record.
The decision to favour Tank over Bashir appears influenced by England head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, who have previously noted Tank’s “high release point” and effectiveness on bouncy surfaces, attributes that could counter Australia’s dominant batting. England, trailing 0–2 in the series, have little choice but to rethink their approach in a bid to stay competitive. The third Test will commence in Adelaide early Wednesday morning, Bangladesh time.
Josh Tank, who made his Test debut in 2023, has impressed selectors with his wicket-taking ability. In six Tests to date, he has claimed 31 wickets at an average of 30.00. In the five-Test home series against India in July, Tank was England’s leading wicket-taker, picking up 19 wickets across three matches. Bashir, meanwhile, has not featured for England since fracturing a finger in the third Test of that series.
England Bowling Changes for Adelaide Test
| Player | Role | Test Wickets in Series | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Tank | Right-arm fast | 31 wickets in 6 Tests | Replaces Gus Atkinson for Adelaide |
| Gus Atkinson | Right-arm fast | 3 wickets in 4 innings | Dropped due to poor performance |
| Shoaib Bashir | Off-spinner | N/A | Remains out despite spin-friendly conditions |
With the series slipping away, England are banking on Tank’s extra bounce and penetration to challenge Australia on a pitch that promises turn, while hoping to finally unlock a route back into contention in the Ashes.