Jake Weatherald could make his debut in the first Ashes Test, while Australia have also recalled Marnus Labuschagne for the series opener in Perth.
Opening batter Weatherald is one of three uncapped players in the squad for the first Test, which starts on November 21, along with seamers Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett.
Tasmania’s Weatherald or Labuschagne will replace the dropped Sam Konstas, while injured skipper Pat Cummins misses out and there is no place in the squad for all-rounder Mitch Marsh or Middlesbrough-born Matt Renshaw.
Konstas scored just 50 runs in six innings during the three-Test tour of the West Indies earlier this year to leave the Australia selectors looking for a new opening partner for Usman Khawaja.
The 31-year-old Weatherald would appear set for that position, although Labuschagne could return after being dropped following the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, having had an impressive start to the Sheffield Shield season.
Steve Smith will skipper the side in Cummins’ absence, with Scott Boland likely to keep his place in a three-man seam attack alongside Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Jake Weatherald is in contention to make his Test debut for Australia in their Ashes opener
Chief selector George Bailey said: “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.”
Doubts over the fitness of Cameron Green mean the all-rounder may be unable to bowl in the first Test, having sent down only four overs so far during the Australian summer.
That could mean Beau Webster retains his place at six, with Green remaining at No 3. If Green is fit to bowl, Webster could find his place under threat from Labuschagne should Weatherald get the nod to open.
Atherton: England out to exploit Australia’s opening partnership
Reacting to the squad announcement, Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton said Australia’s team was “strong and experienced”, but added there are still big decisions for Australia to make ahead of the series opener.
“The big news came a week ago when Pat Cummins announced he was going to miss the first Test and that Steve Smith will captain in his place,” former England captain Atherton said.
“The one outstanding question is about Cameron Green’s bowling and who is going to open the batting, and those two things are linked.
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England coach Tim Southee believes there’s never been a bad Australian cricket team, but concedes they are going through a challenging time.
“I imagine Australia will want Green to bowl and bat at six, Labuschagne at three, and whether or not there will be a debutant to open with the established bowlers with Scott Boland coming in for Cummins.
“It’s going to be a very established team but the one area that England will look at that [where] they’ve had some uncertainty around is the opening partnership since the retirement of David Warner.
“I think Usman Khawaja has had five opening partners in the last two years. If Wetherald plays as a debutant, that will make it six.
“The opening position is a critical position, so England will look at that and think it’s one area they can potentially exploit.”
‘Australia not as settled as they would like to be’
“Normally, you would pick 12 or 13 players but Australia have picked 15 men which shows they have big decisions to make,” Atherton continued.
“There’s still an echo of the 2010-11 series because that year they picked 17 men, which was more than the entire England touring party.
“There was a bit of uncertainty then, and there’s still a bit of uncertainty now in terms of the final big decisions that they’ve got to make.
“They’re probably not quite as settled as they’d like to be.”
Australia’s First Ashes 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
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times UK and Ireland
- First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
- Second Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
- Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
