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Cricket-England bring in Tongue for Atkinson for third Ashes test

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 15, 2025

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· Last updated: January 20, 2026

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Cricket-England bring in Tongue for Atkinson for third Ashes test
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SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - England have made one change to their line-up for the third Ashes test, the team said on Monday, with Josh Tongue coming in as a like-for-like replacement for Gus Atkinson

England Selects Tongue Over Atkinson for Third Ashes Test

SYDNEY, ‌Dec 15 (Reuters) - England have made one change to ‍their ‌line-up for the third Ashes test, the team said ⁠on Monday, with ‌Josh Tongue coming in as a like-for-like replacement for Gus Atkinson in the bowling attack.

Seamer Atkinson failed to take ⁠a wicket in the series opener in Perth, although he ​did make a useful 37 runs with ‌the bat in the ⁠second innings, before returning figures of three for 151 in the second test in Brisbane.

England lost ​both matches by eight wickets and will relinquish all hopes of regaining the Ashes if they are unable to win the third test, which ​begins ‍at Adelaide Oval ​on Wednesday.

Right-arm quick Tongue has taken 31 wickets in six tests at an average of 30 and took five wickets in his only previous test against Australia at Lord's in 2023.

Despite most of England's ⁠batters failing to fire in the series so far, the selectors resisted ​the urge to make any changes in personnel or positions.

England team: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben ‌Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Neil Fullick.)

Key Takeaways

  • Josh Tongue replaces Gus Atkinson for third Ashes test.
  • Atkinson struggled in the first two tests, prompting the change.
  • England must win the third test to keep Ashes hopes alive.
  • Tongue has a strong record against Australia.
  • No changes made to England's batting lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wicket in cricket?
A wicket in cricket refers to the dismissal of a batsman, which can occur in various ways, such as being bowled, caught, or run out. Each team aims to take wickets to limit the opposing team's runs.
What is a bowling attack?
A bowling attack refers to the group of bowlers selected to bowl for a cricket team during a match. The effectiveness of the bowling attack is crucial for taking wickets and restricting runs.
What is a seamer in cricket?
A seamer is a type of fast bowler in cricket who primarily relies on seam movement to deceive batsmen. Seamers typically bowl with a straight seam to generate bounce and movement off the pitch.

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