New Faces for Australia in Crucial Ashes Opener
Australian cricket has turned to a fresh opening combination, naming Jake Weatherald to debut alongside Usman Khawaja at the top of the order for the first Ashes Test against England, beginning on Friday in Perth. The decision means Weatherald becomes Khawaja's sixth different opening partner since the retirement of David Warner in January 2024.
Double Debut Confirmed for Perth
Stand-in captain Steve Smith confirmed the team during his pre-match press conference on Thursday, revealing that fast bowler Brendan Doggett will also earn his first Baggy Green. Doggett's inclusion was widely anticipated after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a hamstring injury. This marks the first time since January 2019, when Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson debuted against Sri Lanka, that Australia has introduced two new caps in the same Test match.
The selection of Weatherald resolves a key question for the Australian selectors, who were weighing whether to use the newcomer or reinstate Marnus Labuschagne as an opener. Ultimately, the Northern Territory-raised batter got the nod, while his Tasmania teammate, Beau Webster, was dropped after playing seven Tests.
Labuschagne Returns as Green Settles at Six
The team announcement also confirms a significant reshuffle in the batting order. Marnus Labuschagne is back in the side following an outstanding start to the domestic summer for Queensland, after being dropped for the tour of the Caribbean. He will bat at number three.
This pushes Cameron Green back down to the number six position, where he began his Test career. Green, who has only recently returned to bowling after playing as a specialist batter in his four Tests this year, is viewed as Australia's long-term number four once Steve Smith eventually retires.
England, meanwhile, have named a 12-man squad for the first Test, selecting both speedsters Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in a clear attempt to exploit the traditionally pace-friendly conditions at the Perth Stadium. With both sides boasting formidable line-ups, this Ashes series is being touted as the closest contest on Australian soil in over four decades.
Confirmed Australia XI: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.
