There is nothing much left in the final test in the Ashes as Australia has already won the Ashes 2025/2026, and they are leading 3-1 after four matches. England name 12 player squad for 5th Ashes Test, and there are some who did not feature in any of the previous four matches. The date for the final Ashes test is 4th January 2026 to 8th January 2026. Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney is the venue for the match.
In the previous test, there was something to cheer for the England team as they finally won a test match in Australia after more than 5500 days. It was also their first win in the series, as they were humiliated in the first three matches of the series, as Australia won all matches under 11 days and clean-swept them 3-0 to retain the Ashes again. Josh Tongue was the Man of the Match in the Boxing Day test as they took a total of seven wickets in the match, which included a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
Also check out: England wins a test match in Australia after 15 years
England name 12 player squad for 5th Ashes Test
Shoaib Bashir, who was the first-choice spinner for the England team coming into this series, did not start any of the first four matches, and it was strange. He could a place in the starting eleven for the final match and surely it is to late for him to make any impact as the series is already lost. It would be great for him to do his magic and help the team in the final match and get a victory.
Apart from him, pacer Matthew Potts can also be the one to play for the first time in the Ashes 2025/2026. The England team at least needs to make one change to their playing eleven from the previous match, as Gus Atkinson, who started the previous match, is not part of the squad as he is out due to a hamstring injury for the final Ashes test. It would either be Shoaib Bashir or Matthew Potts; one of them would get a place in the playing eleven. It could be even both if the captain and coach have some different strategies.
From the previous matches, the England playing eleven is announced a day or two before the match, but this time the team isn’t out as they would be waiting for some last-minute calls. The wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground surely has a lot to offer to the spinners, and that might be the reason that Shoaib Bashir would be a frontrunner when there is Matthew Potts beside him. The team will be out soon.
England 12-player squad for 5th Ashes test
- Batters: Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root
- All-rounders: Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, and Will Jacks
- Wicketkeepers: Jamie Smith
- Bowlers: Shoaib Bashir, Matthew Potts, and Josh Tongue