England’s second eight-wicket defeat to Australia, leaving them 2-0 down in the Ashes, has intensified calls for change — not only in approach and preparation but potentially in selection. Options are limited.
There may be room to freshen the bowling by bringing in Josh Tongue, and Will Jacks’ character in Brisbane appears to have kept Shoaib Bashir out of consideration as the spin option. There is no spare specialist opener in the squad, and Zak Crawley at least showed some form with 76 and 44 at the Gabba. The lack of a reserve wicketkeeper also strengthens Jamie Smith’s case to stay; Ollie Pope, who can keep, is under pressure with his place under scrutiny.
The clearest selection question is whether Jacob Bethell, who scored 71 for the England Lions, should replace Ollie Pope at No 3 for the third Test in Adelaide.
Why consider a change?
The Ashes are on the line and Adelaide represents a last-chance opportunity to alter the side while the series is still contestable. Several top-order batters have given reasons for concern: Harry Brook has thrown his wicket away multiple times, Ben Duckett’s best on tour is 28 from four innings, and Crawley recently recorded a pair in Perth. But Pope’s dismissals at the Gabba were especially damaging: a first-innings duck after chopping on to his stumps playing loosely outside off, then in the second innings offering multiple loose shots and edges before a soft caught-and-bowled to Michael Neser. With 63 Tests to his name, Pope can’t be written off as inexperienced, yet his record against Australia is poor — seven Tests with no fifties and an average of 18.71.
Why Bethell?
Bethell has been the candidate under consideration to replace Pope for some time. The left-hander is talented and bowls left-arm spin, which could help balance a side that might include Will Jacks as the sole specialist spinner in Adelaide, a ground that can suit spin. Bethell made three fifties at No 3 in his debut Test series in New Zealand last winter, and he has a recent 71 for the Lions in Australia.
However, Bethell’s main drawbacks are youth and limited red-ball experience. At 22, he has yet to score a red-ball hundred, though he did notch his first professional century in an ODI against South Africa. He was not recalled early from the IPL to start the summer, lost the No 3 spot back to Pope for the Test against Zimbabwe and the series with India, and managed only 11 runs in two innings when handed a late opportunity at The Oval. Bethell has had just two red-ball matches since then and, despite four Lions outings in Australia, selecting him for Adelaide would be a significant gamble.
Arguments for and against
Michael Atherton argued he would not be against bringing in Bethell. Atherton cites Bethell’s recent runs, his promising New Zealand performances at three, and the value of his left-arm spin for Adelaide’s likely conditions. Still, Atherton also stressed he’d prefer Bethell to have played more cricket over the summer to build experience.
Stuart Broad disagrees with making the switch. He noted Pope’s second-innings dismissal places him under pressure but argued Pope’s overall record and proven ability to score runs make him the safer pick. Broad suggested Bethell’s recent 71 for the Lions is not enough to outweigh his limited track record and that the best top seven from the first Test should remain the side’s best option.
Practical considerations
Selection choices are constrained by the squad makeup: no spare specialist opener, limited keeper cover, and decisions around spin options. Retaining Jacks has influenced the spin balance, and bringing in Bethell would offer left-arm variation. But selectors must weigh the short-term benefit of a change against the risk of throwing a relatively inexperienced batter into a high-pressure Ashes Test in unfamiliar conditions.
Ashes in Australia 2025-26 (UK times)
– First Test (Perth): Australia beat England by eight wickets
– Second Test (Brisbane): Australia beat England by eight wickets
– Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (11.30pm) – Adelaide Oval
– Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – MCG
– Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – SCG