The upcoming 2025-26 cricket Ashes series opening match between England vs. Australia will be held in Perth while the English cricket team has announced a 12-member squad for the first Test match at Optus Stadium. The announcement of the squad took place on November 19, 2025.
England’s 12-man squad for the 1st test
Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Mark Wood
Mark Wood was included after recovering from a hamstring concern and being passed fit.
Why a 12-Man Squad Instead of 11?
There are multiple reasons for England to mention 12 players instead of a final XI, one of which is the strategic reason.
Final pitch assessment: The Perth pitch is characterized by seam and bounce. By naming 12 players, England keeps the option open to select the final XI according to the last-minute pitch and weather conditions.
Injury assessment: Some players (like Mark Wood) were coming back from injuries. Having 12 players lets the team confirm fitness first and then decide the lineup.
Spinner vs pacer: The Perth pitch, which is perceived as a spinner’s graveyard, allows England’s choice of both Shoaib Bashir (spinner) and the extra pacers depending on the wicket’s condition.
Psychological edge: Having 12 players keeps the opponents and the media guessing about the final XI, thus providing England with a slight advantage in terms of tactics.
Match Details
- Dates: 21–25 November 2025
- Venue: Perth Stadium (also known as Optus Stadium), Perth, Western Australia
- Match Format: Five-day Test match
- Start Time (Local): Approximately 10:20 AM local time at Perth for Day 1
What This Means for the Test
The situation in Perth might invite England to use a potent seam-based attack, as the pitch is likely to be fast. The availability of Wood, Archer, Atkinson and Carse makes the bowling unit heavily weighed towards the fast bowlers. At the same time, Bashir’s selection indicates that England still think having a spinner is an asset in the event that the conditions change or the pitch gets soft.
To conclude, the announcement of the 12-man squad shows that England are intentionally remaining ambiguous they are still waiting to see what the fitness, conditions and strategy will be. As the day of the Test draws nearer, the final XI will bring one definite decision, but for the time being, England has revealed what they are up to.
Written By:- Manjunath S