Australia have named a 15-strong squad for next week’s opening Ashes Test in Perth, opting for South Australia opener Jake Weatherald and leaving out teenager Sam Konstas.
The headline changes are straightforward: Weatherald, 31, is in line for a debut, while Marnus Labuschagne is expected to reclaim a middle-order spot after his short-lived axing in the Caribbean. All-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster both keep their places, giving selectors the freedom to balance the XI according to conditions.
Chair of selectors George Bailey explained the thinking on Thursday. “We need coverage for every scenario,” he said. “Jake’s weight of runs at domestic level demanded attention, and Marnus has done everything asked since returning for Queensland.”
Smith stands in for Cummins
Steven Smith continues as stand-in captain with Pat Cummins still managing a lumbar stress issue. The fast bowler will travel with the squad and build workloads with an eye on the second Test in Brisbane. “Pat’s progressing well, but we won’t rush him,” team physio Nick Jones noted. “The target is Brisbane, provided he ticks every box.”
Probable attack
Unless the WACA pitch offers anything extraordinary, Nathan Lyon is likely to reunite with quicks Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Lyon, overlooked in Jamaica when four seamers were preferred, bowled 40 overs for New South Wales last week and says he is “ready to go”.
At least one of Green or Webster should complete the bowling unit. Green’s extra pace remains enticing, yet Webster’s combination of tall seamers and middle-order runs continues to impress the panel. As Bailey put it, “Having both in the squad means we can go horses for courses.”
Reserve options
Queensland duo Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott provide cover for the frontline fast bowlers, with Michael Neser overlooked despite 11 Shield wickets on benign surfaces. “Ness is unlucky,” Bailey admitted, “but we simply can’t take everyone.”
Josh Inglis stays on as back-up wicketkeeper and utility batter. The Western Australian filled in at No. 4 during the Barbados Test and also kept when Alex Carey suffered concussion in Jamaica.
Konstas out, scope for a reshuffle
Konstas’ omission feels harsh: the 20-year-old made 82 in Trinidad on debut, yet has struggled for early-season Shield runs. The inclusion of a specialist opener in Weatherald suggests selectors may slide Usman Khawaja to No. 3 and push Labuschagne to No. 4, though nothing is settled. “We’ve got a week of training to sort the order,” batting coach Michael Di Venuto said.
Balanced but flexible
Overall, the squad looks orthodox: seven specialist batters, two all-rounders, a frontline spinner and five seamers. Flexibility lies in the middle. Should conditions demand extra pace, Lyon could miss out again; if swing looks minimal, Webster’s all-round package may lean Australia towards a five-bowler setup.
Australia squad for first Test v England
Steven Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
The final XI will be confirmed at the toss on Wednesday morning.
