ECB names England’s Ashes 2025-26 squad; Harry Brook to be Ben Stokes’ deputy

On Tuesday, September 23, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) named a 16-man England squad for the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 series, which is set to begin on November 21 at Optus Stadium in Perth. This series will be a part of the ongoing World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

Moreover, the ECB also named the white-ball squads for the New Zealand tour, which is scheduled to start on October 18 in Christchurch. The tour comprises three T20Is and as many ODIs, with Harry Brook named as the captain of both squads.

Moving into the details of the Ashes squad, Ben Stokes will be the captain of the 16-member squad, while the dashing batter Harry Brook has been named as his deputy. It’s important to note that Stokes is continuing his recovery from a shoulder injury, which he sustained during the fourth Test against India.

Meanwhile, the young spinner Shoaib Bashir and star pacer Mark Wood are back in the red-ball squad. While Bashir was ruled out midway through the India Test series after sustaining a finger injury, Wood returned to England's Test squad after recovering from a left knee injury.

England Test squad for The Ashes against Australia: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.

England ODI squad against New Zealand: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.

England T20I squad against New Zealand: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.

A look at the full schedule

England’s tour of New Zealand:

1st T20I: 18 October, Christchurch

2nd T20I: 20 October, Christchurch

3rd T20I: 23 October, Auckland

1st ODI: 26 October, Mount Maunganui

2nd ODI: 29 October, Hamilton

3rd ODI: 1 November, Wellington

England’s tour of Australia:

1st Test: 21-25 November, Perth

2nd Test: 4-8 December, Brisbane

3rd Test: 17-21 December, Adelaide

4th Test: 25-29 December, Melbourne

5th Test: 3-7 January 2026, Sydney

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