Brisbane: Former England captain Michael Atherton has urged the national team to make a strategic selection change by including spinning all-rounder Will Jacks for the pivotal second Ashes Test against Australia at the Gabba. England’s first Test in Perth ended in a significant defeat, with the team lacking a primary spinner in their lineup, and now they face the challenge of bouncing back in the five-match ICC World Test Championship series.

Atherton’s advocacy for Jacks comes as the off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was initially considered the likely candidate for the upcoming match. However, Atherton believes Jacks, who has only two Test appearances with the latest against Pakistan in 2022, should be favored for his dual skills with both bat and ball. In The Times, Atherton argued the necessity of a spinner, highlighting Jacks’ potential to offer the team more flexibility.

Josh Tongue remains an option for England should they require a substitute for the injured fast bowler Mark Wood. Meanwhile, considerations are underway regarding player performance with the pink-ball under day-night conditions, a factor historically benefiting fast bowlers in Australia.

England pacer Brydon Carse noted the preparations the team has undergone, citing discussions with experienced players and reviews of past pink-ball matches. Carse emphasized the importance of adapting strategy to early aggression and leveraging conditions favorable to swing bowling.

As England prepares for the second Test in Brisbane, the decision between Jacks and Bashir could prove critical, with the team aiming to recover from its initial setback and leverage its squad’s strengths in the challenging series ahead.