Will Jacks will play his first Test in three years after England included the spin option for the second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.
The off-spinner has replaced injured fast bowler Mark Wood as the only change to the team which was badly beaten in the first Test in Perth.
The 27-year-old has been selected ahead of Shoaib Bashir for the day-night match at the Gabba as his batting ability gives England more depth at number eight.
Jacques was included in England’s Ashes squad from left field and despite focusing heavily on white-ball cricket in recent years he got the chance to win a third Test cap.
The Surrey player has played only three first-class matches this year, in which he has taken five wickets in 74.1 overs.
England batsman and Jacques Surrey teammate Ollie Pope said, “Everyone knows what a brilliant cricketer he is.”
“The way he has developed over the last few years, we have seen his white-ball game really take off. It’s a great opportunity for his red-ball game as well.
“He’s obviously got that style of spin bowling where he can get some bounce and close down the pitch, then everyone has seen the skills he has in the white-ball format. He can attack really well.”
Jacques, who has 60 caps in white-ball cricket, is primarily a batting all-rounder but he took six wickets on his Test debut against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.
Although the day-night Test is believed to suit fast bowlers, Australia’s off-spinner Nathan Lyon has a better bowling average, economy rate and strike-rate with the pink ball than with the red ball.
Referring to the “tactical element” of the day-night Test, England captain Ben Stokes explained how Australia utilize Lyon.
“They play a lot of day and night cricket here,” Stokes said.
“How they use their spinners as attacking options, or to dispose of the overs quicker and spend more time with the new ball under lights – both these elements have to be considered.”
England squad for the second Ashes Test: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.
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