Lewis in England squad for first Test as Smith left out

For England’s opening Ashes Test match against Australia on Saturday, Mike Lewis has been selected for England’s 19-man matchday squad.

Harry Smith’s absence leaves him with the opportunity to play half-back alongside captain George Williams in the absence of the Hull KR scrum-half.

Lewis won the League Leaders’ Shield and the Challenge Cup as man of the match as Hull KR defeated Wigan in the Grand Final earlier this month.

Jez Litten, a team-mate of his, is also expected to make his first appearance for England since 2023’s mid-season victory over France.

Joe Burgess, their Hull KR team-mate, who returned to the England setup after a 10-year absence when he was called up for the Ashes, has missed out. He scored two tries in the Grand Final.

Instead of announcing a starting lineup, England head coach Shaun Wane has chosen to name a matchday squad. On Tuesday, Australia named their starting 13 players.

England travel to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 1 and AMT Headingley on November 8 after the Test at Wembley on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast live on BBC One at 14:30.

Since his mother is a Londonian, AJ Brimson has made the squad, having previously opted to switch his allegiance from Australia earlier this year.

St Helens forward Alex Walmsley could make his first appearance for England since 2021, while Leigh forward Owen Trout is also in line for an international debut.

Wane stated, “We have a fantastic squad, and it wasn’t easy to narrow down for the first Ashes Test match in 22 years,” but I’m confident the players they chose will face the Kangaroos this weekend.

We’ve spent two fantastic weeks preparing for what will be a historic game under the Wembley Arch.

The Fulton-Reilly Award, which will be presented to the series’ player, will be the winner, among other things.

Bob Fulton and Mal Reilly, two rugby league legends who have appeared in previous Ashes matches, have been the recipients of the new award.

Fulton coached Australia in three more series against Great Britain before taking the lead in the 35 Tests that the Kangaroos won, including four Ashes series.

Jamie Peacock, a former England and Great Britain captain, is optimistic heading into the first Test despite the long wait for Ashes success.

Peacock said he felt the Kangaroos are more vulnerable than some of the great Australian teams he faced in the late 2000s while speaking on the BBC’s Rugby League Top 10 podcast.

It’s a great time to play Australia, he said. We advanced and faced a team that might have had five “Immortals” in it.

They included some of the most renowned players of the past 20 years, such as Paul Gallen, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, and Cameron Smith.

Nathan Cleary will be a standout head and shoulders for this current team. All Pacific Island switches reduce them.