Ashes 2025, AUS vs ENG 3rd Test: Gus Atkinson is replaced by Josh Tongue in England’s starting lineup for the Adelaide Test against Australia
Ashes 2025, AUS vs ENG 3rd Test: The starting eleven for England’s third Test match against Australia in the current Ashes 2025–26 has been revealed. The match is set to take place in Adelaide from December 17 to 21. Their lineup from the second Test has only changed once.
Josh Tongue has returned to the Test squad and will play his first game in the current five-match Test series. Gus Atkinson has been replaced by him. Ben Stokes will remain to captain the England squad despite the rumors, while Will Jacks will stay in the starting lineup after his inclusion for the Second Test. Tongue will play in red-ball cricket for the first time since England’s thrilling six-run defeat at the hands of India in their last Test match at the Oval earlier this year in July.
In order to stay in the current series, England will need to put up a better performance. They will be coming into the game fresh off an 8-wicket loss in the last two meetings in Brisbane. In the continuing Ashes, the visitors presently trail 0-2.
With only three wickets at an average of 78.66 in two Test matches, Atkinson has had a bad run with the ball and hasn’t been at his best in the Ashes so far. Speaking of Tongue, in the day-night tour match against Australia’s PM XI, the right-arm bowler was wicketless.
The players, especially captain Ben Stokes, have come under heavy fire for their lackluster performances in the first two Test matches, and England will be under tremendous pressure when they play in Adelaide. In the pink-ball Test, England was thoroughly outplayed despite being in the game for the most of the match in Perth.
Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain and return hero, will be the center of attention since he has missed the first two games due to injury. With 18 wickets at an average of 14, Mitchell Starc has already surpassed him as the top wicket-taker and has superbly led the pace attack in his absence.
The starting lineup for England’s third Ashes Test match versus Australia
1. Ben Duckett 2. Zak Crawley 3. Pope, Ollie 4. Harry Brook 5. Joe Root 6. Stokes, Ben (c) 7. WK Jamie Smith 8. Will Jacks 9. Carse, Brydon 10. Archer Jofra 11. Tongue, Josh