ADELAIDE: England cricket captain Ben Stokes called for his team to “show a bit of dog” against Australia in the third Ashes Test with the series on the line.
The tourists have made one change to the team beaten by eight wickets at the Gabba in the second Test to slip 2-0 behind in the five-match series, with Josh Tongue recalled in place of Gus Atkinson.
That meant there was no place for specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir, despite the match being played on a pitch expected to suit slow bowlers. Stokes said “proper meaningful conversations” have taken place over how to bounce back from successive losses.
“I’ve done all the talking over the last two days that I needed to,” he said. “All that stuff’s done now, so it’s about what gets seen out on the field in Adelaide this week.
“It’s just about trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in, understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team. Yeah, just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That’s fight to me. You’re giving yourself the best possible chance if you’ve got a bit of dog in you.”
For the must-win Test in Adelaide starting Wednesday, England have batting all-rounder Will Jacks as the spinner option despite Bashir being in the touring group.
Bashir missed out on fast pitches in Perth and Brisbane, and has now failed to dislodge Jacks. Australia, meanwhile, has brought its top spinner, Nathan Lyon, back.