- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:37 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ashes 2025: Australia has revealed the 15-member team for the first Ashes Test against England, which will be held in Perth, where Sam Konstas has been dropped and Marnus Labuschagne has been brought back owing to a brilliant domestic season. Left-hander Jake Weatherald, too, has gotten his maiden call-up and might also open the innings.
Weatherald was selected as he was the highest run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield and had maintained brilliant form in red-ball cricket. He might open the innings with Usman Khawaja as the series opener will be held in Perth later this month.
Labuschagne, who wasn't part of the West Indies Test series, will aim to regain his position in the playing XI post a brilliant season for Queensland. His batting position will depend on whether Weatherland will play as an opener, as the selectors are looking for clearly defined roles.
"The squad gives us good balance and, with 14 of those chosen playing the next round of Sheffield Shield, we will continue to gather information as we move closer to the start of the first Test," chief selector George Bailey told reporters.
"We're looking forward to the group connecting and preparing in Perth after a busy domestic and white-ball schedule to start the summer," he added.
Steve Smith will be leading the team from the front in Pat Cummins' absence. Cummins will continue to recover from a stress injury and will travel with the team to manage his workload and ensure a full recovery in time for the next match.
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Australia's bowling attack consists of players like Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon. All-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster are still part of the team, but there's no clarity as to when they will play together.
Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott are the two reserves. Doggett is returning to the side, giving the West Indies Test series a miss owing to a hip injury, whereas Abbott has retained his position after consecutive appearances. Michael Neser, who performed well in Shield, wasn't selected even though he had taken two wickets.
Josh Inglis is the reserve wicketkeeper and also provides cover for the injured Smith while batting at the No.4 position in their last Test match when Alex Carey was substituted.
Australia's First Test squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
England's squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.