Australia will hand debuts to Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett in the opening Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, marking a bold start to the series.
The pair come in as selectors back a four-man frontline attack, with Cameron Green’s successful return to bowling easing concerns over the absences of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Marnus Labuschagne also returns to his preferred No. 3 spot after a strong start to the season, while Nathan Lyon is recalled following the all-pace experiment in Jamaica.
Doggett’s inclusion, replacing the injured Hazlewood, makes history as Australia field two Indigenous cricketers in a Test XI for the first time. His red-hot form for South Australia, 13 wickets at 14.69 earned him a well-deserved cap. Weatherald, meanwhile, becomes Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner’s retirement, after a composed build-up during training in Perth.
Beau Webster is the unlucky omission despite four half-centuries in seven Tests this year, while Josh Inglis and Michael Neser also miss out. Green shifts back to No. 6, returning to the role where he first made his mark in Test cricket.
Australia XI for first Ashes Test:
Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (C), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett
