 In July 2009 he was named as part of the provisional sixteen man squad to face Australia in the Ashes, at the expense of his Durham team-mate Steve Harmison, however he was not selected for the first Test.He took three wickets in the first innings of the second Test at Lord's, for 41 runs, and went wicketless in the second innings as England won, Andrew Flintoff and Graeme Swann taking the bulk of the wickets.He took 4/58 and 1/74 in the third Test at Edgbaston, as England took a series lead.