England selectors have shown their hand by elevating Harry Brook to vice-captain of the Test team for the Ashes that could open the door for attacking Jacob Bethell to bat in the top order Six fast bowlers are also headed to Australia

Brook has been installed as a replacement for Ollie Pope, who has captained five times as a fill-in for Ben Stokes, in the 16-man Ashes squad that includes Australian nemesis Jofra Archer.

The surprise name was back-up spinner Will Jacks, having not played a Test since 2022.

But among a battery of fast bowlers, Mark Wood, has been named despite not playing competitively since the Champions Trophy in February, joining Matthew Potts, Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue as the frontline attack.

Chris Woakes, who batted with a dislocated shoulder on the dramatic last day of the England-India series, has not been included, but Stokes will lead the charge despite having his own shoulder surgery recently.

Despite being named, Stokes remains under a cloud.

He missed the final Test defeat against India at the Oval in July, but England officials were adamant the superstar all-rounder “remains on track to be available” for the start of the five-Test series beginning in Perth on November 21.

Expectation is high for an England outfit looking to reclaim the Ashes and win a first series in Australia since 2010/11.

Veteran batter Joe Root remains a linchpin of the line-up but has never made a century in Australia.

England Ashes squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (vice-captain), Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.