England captain Ben Stokes (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard) England captain Ben Stokes has urged his team to dig deep and put up more fight as they head into the must-win third Ashes Test against Australia with the series trailing 2-0. Stokes said ahead of Wednesday’s Test in Adelaide that his players must respond with intensity and resilience after defeats in Perth and Brisbane. England made one change from the side beaten by eight wickets at the Gabba, recalling fast bowler Josh Tongue in place of Gus Atkinson.
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The decision means there is once again no place for specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir, although they are expected to offer help to the slow bowlers. Instead, batting all-rounder Will Jacks will fill the rotation role, a call Stokes said was made after serious internal discussions. “I’ve said everything I need to in the last couple of days,” Stokes said. “Now it’s about what people see on the court in Adelaide. You have to fight in every situation you’re in. You look your opponent in the eye and show a bit of a dog. That’s what fighting means to me.” Bashir’s continued omission will come as a blow to the young spinner who has now missed Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. He struggled in the domestic warm-up match earlier in the tour, conceding more than a run ball without taking a wicket, and also went wicketless in England Lions’ match against Australia A last week. Stokes admitted the call was tough, but said the balance of the side came first. “It’s disappointing for Bash, but we feel Jacksy at No.8 strengthens our batting,” he said. “We are losing 2-0 and we have to give ourselves the best chance with the bat and the ball.” Australia, meanwhile, recalled their leading spinner Nathan Lyon, a move that raised questions in the home camp even before England had named their playing XI. “I would be surprised if their No.1 spinner doesn’t play,” Lyon said earlier. The return of the language brings encouragement to England. He was their leading wicket-taker against India earlier this year and took five wickets in his only previous Ashes appearance at Lord’s in 2023, dismissing Steve Smith in both innings. Atkinson was relieved after managing just three wickets in the series at an average of 78.66. With the Ashes on the line, Stokes has made it clear that England’s focus is no longer on words or selection debates, but on providing a response on the Adelaide pitch.
