Ashes 2025-26: Bashir and Jacks in frame as England weigh spin for pink-ball Test

The second Test of the Ashes at the Gabba between Australia and England is set to begin on Thursday, December 4. As match day approaches, intensity has risen both on and off the field, with observers closely monitoring the net sessions to assess how players are handling the pink Kookaburra ball ahead of the day-night fixture.

Among the most notable sights in the nets was England captain Ben Stokes facing offspin from both Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks, a strong indication that the final available spot in the XI remains under consideration. With Mark Wood ruled out as England manage his heavily strapped left knee, the tourists are hopeful he will be fit for Adelaide. The remaining ten players from the first Test are expected to be retained.

Josh Tongue appears the most straightforward replacement if England opt to replicate their all-pace attack from Perth. However, the visitors are believed to be leaning towards adding a spinner as they attempt to level the series from 1-0 down, particularly with expectations that the pink Kookaburra may soften earlier than the red ball.

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Bashir and Jacks have travelled very different paths to this Ashes campaign. Bashir has emerged as Stokes' preferred spinner since his surprise call-up for the India tour at the start of 2024, collecting 68 wickets in 19 Tests. Jacks, an allrounder, was the first conventional offspinner selected by Stokes, debuting in Pakistan in late 2022 where he took 6 for 161 on debut in Rawalpindi and later batted at No. 3 in Multan to give Ollie Pope additional rest after keeping. While Bashir is understood to be the frontrunner for selection, Jacks appeared to have the upper hand during Monday’s session before switching to batting.

Historically, visiting spinners have struggled with the pink ball in Australia, combining for just 28 wickets at an average of 64.03. Joe Root’s three wickets in the Adelaide day-night Test during the 2021-22 tour place him joint-second on that list with Yasir Shah, while Dawid Malan sits joint-fourth with two wickets from the same match. At the top is Ravichandran Ashwin with six wickets at 20.66. England may also draw confidence from Nathan Lyon’s prolific day-night home record, 43 wickets at 25.62 in 13 Tests.

"We've spoken with the guys who have played some pink-ball games, and had a look at some of the pink-ball games that have been played in Australia in the past four or five years. On an evening, it does seem to do a little bit more, especially if you have a slightly newer ball, which I'm sure we'll take into consideration throughout the game. It's going to be exciting. I'm expecting a massive crowd, a hostile crowd. The guys are really looking forward to it,” said Carse as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"I think looking back at a couple of highlights of previous games played in Australia, it's certainly very admirable how their new-ball bowling goes. You know, they strike early and I think that's going to be important, whether that's certain lines we'll be bowling or maybe bowling a touch fuller to let it swing. They've played some really good cricket with a pink ball. So, yeah, I'd like to say that we've had a look at some of the stuff that they've done over the previous years,” he added.