Key Highlights
- Australia’s Ashes squad includes seasoned players like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, alongside promising newcomers such as Jake Weatherald.
- Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will miss the first Test due to injuries, with Scott Boland stepping in for one of them.
- Usman Khawaja remains a certainty at the top of Australia’s order, averaging 43.86 runs against England.
- Australia faces challenges in their batting line-up, particularly around who will open the batting and play as an all-rounder.
The Australian Ashes Squad: Profiles & Stats
As Australia prepares to face England in the upcoming Ashes series, the squad’s composition is a topic of keen interest. With key players missing due to injury, selectors have had to navigate through their options to ensure the team remains competitive across all formats.
Opening Batters: Usman Khawaja and Jake Weatherald
Usman Khawaja (Age: 38; Tests: 84; Runs: 6,053; Average: 43.86; Centuries: 16) has been a constant presence for Australia in recent times, averaging impressively against England with 49.90 runs per match at home and 53.98 overall in 2025.
Jake Weatherald (Age: 31; Tests: Uncapped) has been called up to the squad for the first time, replacing Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney who made their debut last year. Despite his uncapped status, Weatherald is praised by chief selector George Bailey for his solid batting approach.
Batting Middle Order: Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith
Marnus Labuschagne (Age: 31; Tests: 58; Runs: 4,435; Average: 46.19; Centuries: 11) has forced his way back into the squad with a strong start to the domestic season, having hit five centuries in all formats including two in the Sheffield Shield.
Steve Smith (Age: 36; Tests: 119; Runs: 10,477; Average: 56.02; Centuries: 36) will captain the side during Pat Cummins’ absence and has proven to be a crucial component of Australia’s batting line-up, averaging 56.01 against England.
All-Rounders: Cameron Green and Beau Webster
Cameron Green (Age: 26; Tests: 32; Runs: 1,565; Average: 34.02; Wickets: 35; Average: 35.31) is set to be part of the squad despite his role being debated. He has returned to bowling in domestic cricket recently and could potentially play as an all-rounder at six.
Beau Webster (Age: 31; Tests: 7; Runs: 381; Average: 34.63; Wickets: 8; Average: 23.25) has been the all-rounder in recent games but may find himself out of the side with Green’s bowling return and Labuschagne’s batting prowess.
Wicketkeeper: Alex Carey
Alex Carey (Age: 34; Tests: 43; Runs: 2,010; Average: 34.65; Centuries: 2; Dismissals: 177) is an established part of Australia’s side and has the capability to switch between absorbing pressure or playing aggressively with the bat.
Pace Bowlers
Pat Cummins (Age: 32; Tests: 71; Wickets: 309; Average: 22.10; Best figures: 6-23) and Mitchell Starc (Age: 35; Tests: 100; Wickets: 402; Average: 27.02; Best figures: 6-9) are the cornerstone bowlers, with Cummins likely to return for the second Test in Brisbane.
Ashes veteran Josh Hazlewood (Age: 34; Tests: 76; Wickets: 295; Average: 24.21; Best figures: 6-67) will miss at least the first Test due to a hamstring injury, impacting Australia’s chances in both the short and long term.
Supporting Cast
Scott Boland (Age: 36; Tests: 14; Wickets: 62; Average: 16.53; Best figures: 6-7) will feature as the spare seamer, while Nathan Lyon (Age: 37; Tests: 139; Wickets: 562; Average: 30.14; Best figures: 8-50) remains a key spinner in Australia’s arsenal.
Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett, along with Michael Neser, are the other pace bowlers vying for spots, adding depth to Australia’s bowling options.
The Ashes series is set to be fiercely contested, with Australia aiming to extend their dominance over England. The absence of key players due to injuries adds an extra layer of complexity to the team selection process, but selectors have made strategic decisions based on current form and experience.
