Australia unveil XI for Ashes opener; debuts for Weatherald and Doggett

Australia have named their playing XI for the Ashes opener in Perth, handing Test debuts to opener Jake Weatherald and fast bowler Brendan Doggett under stand-in captain Steve Smith.

In a move to streamline the batting order, Australia have left out all-rounder Beau Webster, opting for stability at the top and middle. Weatherald will open with Usman Khawaja, while Marnus Labuschagne returns at No. 3 after missing the Caribbean tour.

Labuschagne’s return pushes Cameron Green down to No. 6, maintaining his role as a bowling option and leaving no room for Webster, who had played seven consecutive Tests since debuting against India in January.

Doggett’s inclusion was widely expected after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Australia had debated whether to promote Labuschagne to open or back a specialist opener; Weatherald’s selection settles the issue and makes him Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner retired in early 2024.

The double debut marks the first time since the 2019 Sri Lanka series—when Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson debuted—that Australia will field two first-timers in the same Test.

Labuschagne returns on the back of a prolific start to the domestic summer for Queensland, while Green moves back to No. 6 after temporarily shifting up the order during his recovery from a serious back injury. Although he has only recently resumed bowling after playing as a specialist batter in four Tests this year, selectors still view him as Australia’s long-term No. 4 once Smith steps away from Test cricket.

Meanwhile, England have announced a 12-man squad for the opener, including both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, as they prepare for a fast, bouncy Perth surface. Captain Ben Stokes will address the media later on Thursday.

Australia XI: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.

England 12-man squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Mark Wood.