Ashes 2025-26: England announce playing 11 for pink-ball test against Australia, Mark Wood ruled out

The England Cricket Team have announced their playing XI for the second Test of the Ashes 2025-26 against the Australian Cricket Team. The visitors have made one change to their XI from the last game with injured Mark Wood ruled out of the match.

The second Test of the Ashes 2025-26 will be a pink-ball game and will begin on 4 December. The two teams have been putting in hard yards and the upcoming game is expected to be a cracker of a series. 

In the England XI for the second test, Will Jacks has replaced Mark Wood. Jacks has two games in the longest format of the game and has been decent, having scored 89 runs with the bat and taking six wickets with the ball including a fifer.

The rest of England is the same with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett at the top followed by Ollie Pope at three. Joe Root, Harry Brook and captain Ben Stokes form the solid middle order for the Three Lions. 

England bat deep with Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse and Gus Atinkson being there. Jofra Archer also has retained his place in the team for the second Test of the Ashes.

England playing XI for the second test of Ashes 2025-26

1. Zak Crawley, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Ben Stokes(c), 7. Jamie Smith, 8. Will Jacks, 9. Gus Atkinson, 10. Brydon Carse, 11. Jofra Archer

England are 1-0 down in the series, having lost the opening game in Perth, where they faced an 8-wicket loss and the match ended in just two days. It remains to be seen if they make a comeback in the second match or not.