Key Highlights
- Australia leads the Ashes series 2-0 after day three in Adelaide.
- England selected Will Jacks over Shoaib Bashir as their lead spinner for the third Test.
- The decision was made due to batting struggles and the need for extra batting cover, according to coach Jeetan Patel.
- Travis Head’s century helped Australia dominate England in day three of the match.
The Ashes: England’s Decision to Pick Will Jacks Over Shoaib Bashir
England are sliding towards an Ashes series defeat with Australia leading by 356 runs at the end of day three in Adelaide. The decision to select spinner Will Jacks over experienced bowler Shoaib Bashir as their lead all-rounder came under scrutiny, with England’s batting struggles playing a significant role.
Speaking after the third Test in Adelaide, coach Jeetan Patel admitted that England were “backed into a corner” by the team’s batting issues. “We were backed into a corner having to play Jacksy by the fact that the first two pitches we played on have done a lot,” Patel explained, highlighting the challenges posed by the pitch conditions.
Patel further stated, “Bash is certainly 100 per cent the number one spinner and what he does is a fantastic job for this team, but in the context of our current batting struggles, we needed to prioritize batting cover.” This decision has drawn criticism from former England captain Nasser Hussain, who said that Bashir’s bowling is “currently in a bad place” compared to Jacks.
Jacks’ Performance and Pressure on Australia
Will Jacks, who impressed with the bat after being brought in for the second Test in Brisbane, has struggled in Adelaide. He has taken four wickets but at an economy rate of over five runs per over. In contrast, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has bowled with greater control and effectiveness.
Lyon’s performance allowed Australia’s fast bowlers to rotate their pace options, maintaining pressure on the English batsmen.
Speaking about Jacks’ performance, Patel said, “I don’t think he’s bowled overly poorly. He may have missed a little bit short or straight every now and then.” Despite this, Patel added that England will need to find ways for Jacks to improve his bowling in future matches.
Travis Head’s Century and Australia’s Dominance
Australia’s Travis Head remained unbeaten on 142 as the team reached 271-4 at the close of day three, leading by 356 runs. Alex Carey was not out on 52 after scoring a century in the first innings. The strong performance of Australia’s spinners, particularly Nathan Lyon, has been a significant factor in their dominance.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain and fellow former skipper Michael Atherton highlighted the contrast between Jacks’ and Lyon’s performances during the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
Atherton noted that Lyon’s control was “massive” compared to Jacks’, who struggled with pressure, conceding over 100 runs in the match.
The third Test is scheduled for Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 at Adelaide Oval. With Australia leading 2-0 in the series, England faces a challenging task to avoid an unassailable defeat and maintain their Ashes hopes.
