Chair of selectors George Bailey has announced Australia’s 15-player squad for the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, with Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald earning a maiden national call-up.
Incumbent opener Sam Konstas has been dropped following a recent form slump, headlined by his underwhelming Test tour of the West Indies, while Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott have been named as the squad’s reserve quicks.
Queensland captain Marnus Labuschagne, as expected, earned a recall having struck five hundreds in seven games for the Bulls, while Matthew Renshaw was unlucky to miss selection. As previously announced, captain Pat Cummins was unavailable for selection due to his back injury, with Steve Smith leading Australia in his absence.
Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1 >
Speaking to reporters on the Gold Coast, Bailey confirmed the make-up of the starting XI rests heavily on the fitness of all-rounder Cameron Green, who has only bowled four overs since his return from back surgery.
“I appreciate that everyone wants the XI, but that’s the squad,” Bailey declared.
“We don’t necessarily need to name the XI until the coin goes up and the captain hands the team sheet over.
“I don’t think we’ll be in that position, but we’ll work through it.”
WINNERS AND LOSERS: Star who copped roughest snub; odd men out in curious pace race
‘DON’T MESS WITH HIM’: Why legend fears Aussies are on brink of a big Marnus mistake
‘IF HE FARTS, IT’S A HEADLINE’: Aussie message to Konstas revealed as Bailey hits back over swipe
The uncapped Weatherald was the Sheffield Shield’s leading run-scorer last summer with 906 runs at 50.33, while he started the 2025/26 summer with a match-winning performance against Western Australia in Hobart.
“If you look at his performances over the last 18-24 months, it’s been really solid,” Bailey said of Weatherald.
“There’s a method there that we like and is complementary to other players around him in the squad.
“He scores at a good rate, and the way he goes about building his innings has been impressive.”
He added: “That’s what’s attractive to us. He scores at a nice rate and puts bad balls away.
“He’s looking to score. He’s aggressive without being over the top.”
However, Bailey clarified that Weatherald was “not confirmed” to play the series opener at Perth Stadium, with the fourth round of the Sheffield Shield to help determine the final starting XI.
“Still some information to gather out of that,” Bailey continued.
“Cameron Green being one, his return to the bowling crease.
“With 14 out of the 15 (squad members) playing (the Sheffield Shield next week), you just want to make sure everyone gets through fit and doing what you need them to do.”
Bailey flagged that Green could still potentially play as a specialist batter if required, adding there’s “no reason why” he and fellow all-rounder Beau Webster couldn’t be in the same starting XI.
The first Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at Perth Stadium on November 21.
AUSTRALIAN SQUAD FOR FIRST ASHES TEST
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
Follow all the latest updates in our live blog below! Can’t see the blog? CLICK HERE
