The England men’s Ashes team have released three players: Jacob Bethell, Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue to join the England Lions squad for the upcoming two-day match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI.
England are currently touring Australia for the Legacy Year and Ashes tournament, while the England Lions are also touring the Australian isles for a side tour to the main Ashes tour.
Australia won the first match of the Ashes thanks to the sheer dominance of Australian speedster Mitchell Starc, who picked up ten wickets in the match. Travis Head then guided Australia to an 8-wicket victory alongside Marnus Labuschagne.
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Jacob Bethell, Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue will join the Lions team
England have released three of their players from the main Ashes squad as they are likely to be drafted into the England Lions squad for the upcoming match against the Prime Minister’s XI.
These players will not be part of the upcoming Ashes match against Australia at the Gabba. The released players are Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts and Jacob Bethell.
These players were not included in the playing XI for the first Test and are only injury replacements for England’s main XI.
England look to bounce back in Brisbane
England arrived at Optus Stadium in Perth and played the first Ashes match against what they called the weakest Australian team of the century.
The Australian team was also missing its dangerous bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The two leaders were not part of the Australian eleven.
However, their batting collapsed against Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland and was subsequently bruised by Travis Head’s carnage. Australia beat England in their second consecutive match after the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to be ruled out of Brisbane
The Australian team suffered many blows as Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out due to massive injuries.
Although Cummins was ruled out months ago, his injury remains in play and no confirmation of his return ahead of the Gabba Test has been provided. However, Hazlewood has been injured recently and is expected to return, but not before the second Ashes Test.
Finally, Usman Khawaja was injured in the last match and may not be guaranteed to open the innings for Australia, but he is unlikely to be left out of the squad in any way. His back injury was a concern, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Australia as captain Steve Smith sent on Travis Head to replace him.
Head, who is very different from Khawaja, scored runs very quickly and put the pressure back on England’s bowlers, who almost made the 200 target look like a minor chase on such a difficult track.
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