It would be quite the shock call up – Will Jacks very quietly earned something like it, with recall to England’s squad for this winter’s Ashes series in Australia. The South Africa-born all-rounder is a fixture in England’s white-ball setup. Now, though, he’ll replace Shoaib Bashir on the Test side coming in. This decision follows closely on the heels of impact performers like Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, and Jack Leach.
Jacks, a quickish off-spinner, has had his struggles this year in first-class cricket, his tally limited to five wickets in 74.1 overs at the time of writing. His prior track record on the international stage is indeed notable. His Test call-up—after having taken six wickets on his debut for Pakistan against Australia in 2022—was awaited with great enthusiasm. Since then, he has barely sniffed a Test match, and thus this recall could be his big chance to turn his career around.
The first Test of the five-match Ashes series starts November 21 in Perth. Jack’s super excited to be rejoining the Test team. At one point, he was in the same roster as current England Test captain Ben Stokes. He praised Stokes’ collaborative leadership style. Not just through the accolades, Stokes leads by example pushing everyone around him to be on top of their game.
In a recent interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Jacks applauded the leadership cohort. This motley crew is led by the likes of Stokes and their head coach Brendon McCullum. He said that their business approach gives him tremendous confidence. More than that, it gives him the tools to feel equipped to solve whatever problem is thrown at him. That feeling is indicative of the buzz surrounding this team as they get ready for one of cricket’s most hallowed rivalries.
Jacks’ inclusion in the squad signifies the selectors’ trust in his potential despite his recent lack of first-class wickets. His knowledge of the white-ball format could come in handy as England attempt to wrestle back control in the long-form Ashes series.
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