7 England players who were called up as replacements during an Ashes series
In the past, apart from seasoned cricketers, quite often the tour promoters, the umpires, the coaches, the baggage-men, and even the pressmen had to fill in for the touring MCC side in Australia when there were sudden injuries to squad members.
Some of them got a chance to play in the tour matches and others, much to their surprise, were lucky enough to play Test matches as well.
As Tom Curran, who replaced Steven Finn for Ashes 2017-18, makes an entry into this list, let's take a look at the English cricketers who were not part of the initial squad to Australia but went on to play Test matches on those tours.
Reg Wood (1886-87)
Cheshire-born Wood was a left-arm medium pacer who featured occasionally in the 1880s but didn't progress because there was suspicion about the legitimacy of his bowling action. He emigrated to Australia and was called up to play for England when Billy Barnes broke his hand. Wood played three times for the tourists, one of them being the Test match at the MCG. He made 6 and 0 and that was the last time he appeared in a First-class match.
George Gunn (1907-08)
Gunn batted well during Nottinghamshire's successful county championship campaign of 1907. But ill-health plagued him and, heeding the advice of his friends, he went to warmer Australia conditions during the English winter. He was drafted into the side when A.O. Jones fell ill with pneumonia.
Gunn made his debut in the first Test and scored 119 and 74. He batted well in all five Test and finished with a series average in excess of 50.