Australia announce 15-man squad for 1st Ashes 2025-26 Test; Steve Smith to captain & 3 uncapped players picked

Australia have announced a 15-member squad for the first Ashes 2025-26 Test, beginning on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. With Pat Cummins ruled out of the series opener, Steve Smith will captain the hosts, while three uncapped players in Jake Weatherald, Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett, have been included.

Left-hander Weatherald received his maiden call-up to the Test squad and could open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja in Perth. The 31-year-old has been in promising form in the ongoing Sheffield Shield, hitting 248 runs in three games at 41.33 alongside a best of 94. Pacers Doggett and Abbott have been with the Test squad earlier too, but they are unlikely to play in the opening Test.

Marnus Labuschagne is also in line to slot back into the playing XI after being dropped for the tour of the West Indies earlier this year. The right-handed batter is currently the leading run-getter of the Sheffield Shield season, aggregating 341 runs in four innings, averaging a mighty 85.25. It remains to be seen if he opens the innings, having done so for Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa.

Australia 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.

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"The squad gives us good balance" - Cricket Australia chief selector

George Bailey. (Image Credits: Getty)

Australia's chief selector George Bailey stated that they are yet to zero in on the playing XI and will take a good look at it after the next round of the Sheffield Shield. The former captain said, as quoted by cricket.com.au:

"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."

Elaborating on the non-selection of Sam Konstas, Bailey said the message for all the players is to keep scoring runs in the first-class arena. He elaborated:

"I feel for Sammy. There’s a handful of young guys his age playing Shield cricket around the country, and they’re all learning, they’re all going through a journey of becoming the best cricketer they can be, and Sammy’s no different at that. We really like him. We like the skill set there. But the message is just to keep it simple and score runs and bat for as long as you can for New South Wales."

The Aussies had beaten England 4-0 in the last Ashes Down Under.

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Edited by Srinjoy Sanyal