England Ashes squad 2023: Breakdown of all 16 players

The 73rd iteration of the Ashes is on our doorstep, and here’s our preview of the England squad for Ashes 2023.

Before the last edition of the Ashes, the series was all but a foregone conclusion. The ENG Ashes squad was in a shambles. They'd been losing series left and right, and it seemed as though only a miracle could get England back into shape. It’s not every day that a miracle is required and actually takes place, yet that’s the most appropriate word that comes to mind when one thinks of Bazball. 

When former New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendan McCullum came to England to be their Test coach, many derisive snorts were heard. However, the Kiwi legend has not only proven to be just what England needed, but might actually be the man who transforms Test cricket as a whole — a change that has already become part and parcel of this rejuvenated England team. 

With the Ashes looming large, we’ll take a look at the England Ashes squad 2023, looking at how each individual Englishman stands as a part of the whole, before we predict the most likely playing 11 for the first Test in Birmingham. 

England squad for Ashes 2023

The following are the 16 players in the England Ashes squad 2023 chosen by the England Cricket Board to represent the country at the Ashes this year:

Ben Stokes

• Playing Role: Allrounder
• Age: 32y
• Batting Style: Left-hand bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Batting Average: 35.92
• Total Runs: 5712
• Test Bowling Average: 32.10
• Wickets Taken: 194

Stokes is essentially the face of the England team in all three formats at this point, and it's no different when it comes to the England squad for Ashes 2023. The talismanic 32-year-old has been an integral cog in what has become a well-oiled machine. Handy with the ball and able to both hold the fort and blast away, Stokes is the kind of player who just can’t be replaced in almost any XI.

Moeen Ali 

• Playing Role: Batting Allrounder
• Age: 35y 
• Batting Style: Left-hand bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak
• Test Batting Average: 28.29
• Total Runs: 2914
• Test Bowling Average: 36.66
• Wickets Taken: 195

Although he was better known for his bowling earlier in his career, Moeen Ali has since become much more celebrated for his destructive turns with the bat. The big-hitter is all but coming out of retirement to join the ENG Ashes squad though, as his last match was against India all the way back in September 2021.

James Anderson 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 40y 
• Batting Style: Left-hand bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Bowling Average: 25.99
• Wickets Taken: 685

Inarguably the greatest Test fast bowler of all time, Anderson’s pace may not be what it once was, but few can do what his two decades of experience has taught him to do with a ball. Remarkably, he is just as deadly now as in the prime of his years. Anderson will be the English pace battery’s main man in the England Ashes squad 2023.

Jonny Bairstow

• Playing Role: Wicketkeeper
• Age: 33y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Medium
• Test Batting Average: 37.04
• Total Runs: 5482

After a dramatic resurgence in the first half of last year, the aggressive wicket-keeper finally overcame a lengthy injury to return to the side after nearly a year. The onus will be on Bairstow to prove to the selectors that he’s still got it.

Stuart Broad 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 36y 
• Batting Style: Left-hand bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Bowling Average: 27.65
• Wickets Taken: 582

The Robin to Anderson’s Batman, Broad is undoubtedly a terrific bowler, but one that is feeling the effects of age much more than his much older strike partner. His bowling isn’t quite what it used to be, but he’s still useful in a pinch and extremely passionate about the game. Add in his stellar record against David Warner, and there's a reason why Broad is in this England squad for Ashes 2023.

Harry Brook 

• Playing Role: Batter
• Age: 24y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Medium
• Test Batting Average: 81.80
• Total Runs: 818

Even a year ago, Joe Root seemed to be England’s only hope with the bat, but now many an eye has fallen on young sensation Harry Brook. The 24-year-old Yorkshireman has stormed into the scene, averaging a ridiculous 81.8 across 11 innings with a stupefying 99.03 strike rate.

Zak Crawley 

• Playing Role: Top order Batter
• Age: 25y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak
• Test Batting Average: 28.26
• Total Runs: 1724

Crawley has had about as difficult a start to his Test career as anyone in a full-member side outside of the relatively newer inclusions. It’s a minor miracle that he’s made the ENG Ashes squad, but to be fair he has looked much better since he was allowed to cut loose by McCullum.

Ben Duckett 

• Playing Role: Top order Batter
• Age: 28y 
• Batting Style: Left-hand bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm offbreak
• Test Batting Average: 47.05
• Total Runs: 800

A stalwart of many different T20 leagues, Duckett was called back into the side six years on from an unimpressive debut at the end of last year. Since then, he has been a force of nature — with two centuries, four fifties, and only one two-digit accumulation in six Tests.

Dan Lawrence 

• Playing Role: Middle order Batter
• Age: 25y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak
• Test Batting Average: 29.00
• Total Runs: 551

Very similar to Zak Crawley in terms of his start, Lawrence is back in the side after 15 months. Averaging just under 30, he will have to make quite the impact to secure a slot in this powerful side. Chances are, Lawrence will do a bit of bench warming in the England Ashes squad 2023.

Ollie Pope 

• Playing Role: Middle order Batter
• Age: 25y
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Test Batting Average: 35.27
• Total Runs: 2046

Probably England’s best batting talent after Root and possibly Brook, Pope is shaping up to be quite the player. At just 25, he has plenty of refinement and training to go, and he has been giving us plenty of reasons to believe that he can be world class. 

Matthew Potts 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 24y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Bowling Average: 29.26
• Wickets Taken: 23

A handy new addition to the side, Potts may not get first pick over his deadlier, more experienced brethren, but he has shown sparks of talent in his short career. Taking part in the Ashes would provide invaluable experience and credence to that career.

Ollie Robinson 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 29y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Medium fast
• Test Bowling Average: 21.27
• Wickets Taken: 66

A player who has worked hard through the English system to reach where he is now, Robinson would have been Anderson’s heir apparent had he not been at the wrong end of his twenties. Nevertheless, he could have a good 8-9 years left in him for England to capitalize on.

Joe Root 

• Playing Role: Top order Batter
• Age: 32y
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak, Legbreak
• Test Batting Average: 50.24
• Total Runs: 11004

One of the greatest batters of his generation — if not all time — Root has been the anchor for England for pretty much his entire career. On the cusp of becoming England’s highest-ever Test run scorer, the ODI World Cup winner is predicted to be their best player with the bat.

𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁.

The Red Ball Revolution | 14.06.23 pic.twitter.com/TXmwk8ZiBi

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 13, 2023

Josh Tongue 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 25y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Bowling Average: 21.20
• Wickets Taken: 5

The freshest inclusion to the squad, Josh Tongue will be lucky to make the playing 11 of any of the Tests. His debut happened just two weeks ago, and although he managed a fifer in an innings, it was a match against Test greenhorns Ireland.

Chris Woakes 

• Playing Role: Allrounder
• Age: 34y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Batting Average: 27.91
• Total Runs: 1675
• Test Bowling Average: 30.73
• Wickets Taken: 130

A handy lower-order all-rounder, Chris Woakes is a bit of a hit-or-miss. He has the ability to win England many a match, but his lack of consistency means that he has also been responsible for a few blunderous moments to the opposite effect.

Mark Wood 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 33y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast
• Test Bowling Average: 30.88
• Wickets Taken: 90

His stats may not be impressive — especially at 33 — but this late bloomer has been impressive at times. He will likely be England’s fourth-choice speedster should they choose to go with him, considering the fact that their current spinners can all bat. 

ENG Ashes squad: Predicted playing 11 for the Ashes 2023 first Test

• Zak Crawley
• Ben Duckett
• Ollie Pope
• Joe Root
• Harry Brook
• Ben Stokes (c)
• Jonny Bairstow
• Moeen Ali
• James Anderson
• Stuart Broad
• Ollie Robinson

Can England win the Ashes?

Despite Australia claiming the Test Mace after winning the 2022-2023 World Test Championship, there’s every chance for England to win The Ashes at home, especially given their recent performances. Bazball is a thing of beauty, and the selectors have chosen a strong England squad for Ashes 2023.