England have announced their playing XI for the third Ashes Test to be played at Headingley in Leeds from Thursday, July 6, which includes a number of changes. England were dealt a blow after the Lord’s Test when their vice-captain and No. 3 batsman Ollie Pope was ruled out of the series at Lord’s with a dislocated shoulder.
Since Pope is out, young sensation Harry Brook is set to be promoted to No.3 as the former captain Joe Root Will continue to bat at his preferred position of No.4. A vacancy in the batting line-up will be filled by two all-rounders. moeen ali and Chris Woakes. Woakes will be playing his first Test since 2021 and also his first under the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum era. Woakes replaces James Anderson, who has been rested for the third Test.
Anderson took only two wickets in the first two Tests on flat surfaces at Edgbaston and then at Lord’s. Anderson as well as Josh Tongue of the two Tests have been rested after little change between the second and third games.
Fast bowler Mark Wood has come in for Tongue, who missed the first two Tests due to an elbow injury. Wood last played a competitive game on 15 April IPL 2023 for Lucknow Super Giants before leaving the T20 tournament early for the birth of his child. England were waiting for Wood to be fully fit before fielding him at Headingley, which has been a bastion for the home team over the years.
The rest of the squad remains the same with Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson both retaining their places. Ben Stokes and Co. will be hoping that these changes have a positive impact as the Headingley Test is a do or die game for them as they have to win at any cost.
England’s playing XI for the third Ashes Test: Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Johnny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood