England announce 12-man squad for Ashes 2025-26 5th Test; two new additions from Boxing Day game

England have named their 12-member squad for the fifth and final Test of the 2025-26 Ashes Series, starting in Sydney on Sunday, January 4. Pacer Gus Atkinson missed out on the roster, having been ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in the fourth Test in Melbourne.

The visitors have included off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts in the squad. Neither player has played a single game in the series.

Ben Stokes' side lost the first three matches and conceded the Ashes urn to the Aussies. However, they displayed incredible resolve to pull off a low-scoring thriller by four wickets in the Boxing Day Test.

It was England's first Test win on Australian soil since the 2010/11 tour, ensuring another embarrassing series whitewash down under was avoided. Josh Tongue was the star of the show with seven wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

With Sydney traditionally favoring spin, the visitors could field Bashir and Will Jacks in a two-pronged spin attack.

England's 12-member squad for the 5th Ashes 2025-26 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

Revisiting the last Ashes Test in Sydney

Australia and England last faced off in Sydney in the 2021/22 Ashes, with the series already decided. The hosts had already won the first three Tests decisively, and the penultimate encounter was scheduled to be played in Sydney.

The Aussies posted a massive total of 416/8 in their first innings, thanks to a brilliant 137 from Usman Khawaja. In response, England succumbed to only 294 despite a breathtaking 113 by Jonny Bairstow.

Australia pummelled their way to 265/6 in the second innings, setting England an improbable target of 388. The visitors clung on to a draw by reaching 270/9 in 102 overs on the final day.

The result helped England avoid a series whitewash as they lost the series finale in Hobart by 146 runs. The final series scoreline thus read Australia 4 and England 0.

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran