The spinning all-rounder was a surprise choice as back-up twirler to Shoaib Bashir having previously been mostly considered for the white-ball set-up. In the intervening period England have picked six other spinners including Bashir, even dragging Moeen Ali out of retirement to plug a gap during the 2023 Ashes. If he is unable to play any of the Tests Jacks may well take the all-rounder role with Bashir axed. Australia have their own problems with captain Pat Cummins a doubt for the first Test with a back problem. England squad: B Stokes (capt), H Brook (vice-capt), J Archer, G Atkinson, S Bashir, J Bethell, B Carse, Z Crawley, B Duckett, W Jacks, O Pope, M Potts, J Root, J Smith (wk), J Tongue, M Wood.