Wisden Cricket Weekly Ashes Daily: Why England have picked Will Jacks and Australia's potentially curveball way of replacing Usman Khawaja
Dec 2, 2025
In this discussion, cricket journalist Matt Roller breaks down England's surprising selection of Will Jacks for the Brisbane Test. He elaborates on Jacks' role as a dynamic part-time spinner and England's strategy to strengthen their batting lineup. The conversation also explores Australia's challenge of replacing Usman Khawaja, with Travis Head's possible move to opener under scrutiny. Additionally, they delve into the unique dynamics of pink-ball cricket and how twilight conditions could influence the match.
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Selection Prioritised Batting Depth
- England picked Will Jacks to add batting depth and pragmatic all-round value rather than as a frontline spinner.
- Matt Roller argues Jacks lengthens the batting lineup while seamers remain the primary wicket-takers in a pink-ball game.
Jacks Is An Attacking, Imperfect Spinner
- Will Jacks is an attacking, high-release spinner but remains inexperienced in red-ball cricket and not a finished product with the ball.
- England will still rely heavily on their seamers and view Jacks as a secondary spin option in specific match contexts.
Slight Shift Toward Longer Batting Lineups
- England's selection shows a slight philosophical shift towards longer batting depth over purely maximising frontline bowling options.
- Matt Roller links this change to the absence of Chris Woakes and the desire to avoid a very long tail.