England have announced their playing XII for the fifth and final Ashes Test that will begin from January 4. The visitors have decided to replace the injured Gus Atkinson with Matthew Potts, who hasn't made an appearance in the format since December, 2024. It will be the latter's first appearance in an Ashes Test if he makes the cut into the XI.
Potts has so far played 10 Tests in his career for England and all of his appearances have come under the reins of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. He has picked up a total of 36 wickets for the Three Lions, including two 4-wicket hauls. Potts has also played 11 ODIs and a single T20I for the team, but hasn't been able to cement his place in any of the set-ups.
Bashir also makes the cut
The 12-member squad also includes spinner Shoaib Bashir, who is yet to play a match in the ongoing series. With the Australian pitches mostly favouring the pacers, spinners from both sides have taken a back-seat and have struggled to make it into the playing XI. Bashir has been named as the 12th player in the team, but can end up missing out on the fifth Test.
With Will Jacks already present as an off-spin option for England in the fifth Test, it is unlikely that Bashir will get a place in the squad especially with the weather forecast predicting rain in the first two days of the Test. The pitch can once again turn out to be a paradise for the seamers.
Australia in control
Meanwhile, Australia have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the ongoing Ashes series. They had come out victorious in the first three matches, but had lost in Melbourne as England put an end to their 15-year drought for a Test win Down Under. Though the visitors don't have a shot at winning or equaling the series, a win in Sydney would be a major confidence booster for them so they won't be going easy by any means.
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England's playing XII for 5th Ashes Test: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (WK), Josh Tongue.