By Jon Pierik
While the 2025-26 home Ashes is the next big-ticket series, Australia’s selectors always have an eye just over the horizon.
They have handed baggy green caps to five debutants in the past seven Tests, so generational change is already underway. There could be more to come before the 2027 tour of England, where Australia has not claimed an outright series win since 2001.
New breed: Sam Konstas, Harry Dixon and Ollie Peake after Australia claimed the ICC U19 World Cup in South Africa last year.Credit: ICC via Getty Images
David Warner’s retirement and the decision for Steve Smith to return to No.4 in the order, his most proficient spot, meant Nathan McSweeney, then Sam Konstas, were given opportunities to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja in the series win over India.
Injuries to frontline selections Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood, and the poor form of Mitch Marsh, forced a shake-up. A horses-for-courses policy, and injuries, meant more fresh faces were unveiled during the series win in Sri Lanka, where Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly debuted.
While the five-Test tour of India in early 2027, and the ensuing Ashes series, are the long-term prized events, just surviving will be a battle of selection attrition, for the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Program from 2026 is a slog.
Here’s how that schedule looks.
Assuming anyone is still standing after that gruelling program, we canvassed opinions from state coaches, selectors and observers around the country to pick a “next gen” Test XI for the 2027 Ashes - complete with a seismic call.
Sam Konstas (NSW)
Age in 2027: 21
Konstas brings excitement, but the spotlight on the NSW batsman through his opening two Tests was overblown. Yes, there was his ‘ramp-aging’ 60 on debut at the MCG, but he is averaging 28.25 after two Tests. Let’s take a breath here. We expect him to be at the top of the order come England, although - as state officials point out - he is a work in progress. Yes, he has been, to borrow a tech term, a disruptor, and looks to have the tools and application, but he hasn’t yet had the opportunity to prove he can get the job done through a full series. We’ll soon see.
Ashes bound: Young batting star Sam Konstas is likely to have a key role to play in the 2027 Ashes.Credit: Getty Images
Henry Hunt (SA)
Age in 2027: 30
Usman Khawaja may have reinvigorated his Test career in Sri Lanka, but it would be a surprise if he was still going in 2027, when he will be 40.
In line: Henry Hunt celebrates a century for the Redbacks.Credit: Getty
Provided Khawaja retires next summer, there is support for Marcus Harris (33 in July), Cameron Bancroft (33 in November), Matt Renshaw (29 next month) and the uncapped Henry Hunt (28). Ideally, Konstas has a more experienced operator at the other end. Harris and Renshaw, the latter having averaged 29.3 in 14 Tests, would ensure a left-and-right-handed combination with Konstas. Harris and Bancroft, however, would be in their mid 30s come 2027. So we’ll plump for Hunt, the technically correct South Australian with three first-class centuries this summer, who should be at the peak of his powers by then, and is in the right age bracket. Redback sources and rival state selectors say Hunt is progressing well, and has the footwork to counter the swinging and seaming Dukes ball.
Cameron Green (WA)
Age in 2027: 28
While Marnus Labuschagne is currently short of runs (only one century and an average of less than 28 through the current World Test Championship segment), it’s tough to tip against him come the next Ashes tour, when he will only be 33. Even if he was axed ahead of the WTC final, there is plenty of time for the Queenslander to return as an experienced hand in a semi-rebuilding side. But Australia clearly want Green back in the top order (although he is averaging a modest 36.23 after 28 Tests), when he’s recovered from his back issues. Domestic cricket sources say the national selectors want Green to bowl, but does the time come where he rarely takes the ball, and follows the Steve Waugh model? he made a ton at No.4 in New Zealand last year. We’ll make a tough call and go with Green, but Labuschagne could well remain.
Harry Dixon (Vic)
Age in 2027: 22
This is where it gets really tricky - and a controversial call may have to be made. Who would back against Steve Smith, by then aged 38, making the trip, but can his body, namely his right elbow, hold up to potentially deliver a breakthrough series win? Those who watch Smith closely say he is as invested as ever, and has found a second wind, although this week he was non-committal about his future. However, if there was change, what are the options?
This could be where Nathan McSweeney, 25, eventually settles back into the Test team after debuting as an opener. Or the selectors could make a brave call and plump for either Harry Dixon or Ollie Peake, the precocious pair of Victorian left-handed stroke makers. Dixon idolises David Warner and his bullish half-century in his first-class debut against Tasmania would have made Warner proud. Peake, yet to make his first-class debut, was also part of the recent under-19 World Cup-winning team. That he toured Sri Lanka this month with the Test squad as part of a Cricket Australia development scheme reinforced his potential. Smith will be given every chance to play on, but Dixon’s name is on the lips of cricket insiders.
Travis Head (c)
2027 age: 33
From where we sit now, he is perhaps the only certainty. The South Australian blaster shapes as the middle-order kingpin for the next three years, and may even have replaced Pat Cummins as captain by then. The left-handed match-winner has played his best cricket at No.5, but could he shift a spot higher should that be required? Head’s off-spin is also more than handy, as reinforced in Galle.
Beau Webster (Tas)
Age in 2027: 33
Tasmania’s “Slug from Snug” gives this side the balance required for success on all surfaces, but this position could depend on whether Green is allowed to bowl. Webster is an excellent batter who can occupy or put the foot down. From his height, he can extract challenging bounce from his mediums or off-spin, and his bucket-sized mitts mean he may have the safest hands in world cricket. However, state selection sources say WA allrounder Aaron Hardie, NSW allrounder Jack Edwards (who opens the batting in white-ball domestic cricket and opens the bowling in red-ball cricket) and Victorian skipper Will Sutherland will also be in the mix. This is likely to be a fluid position. A young batsman, including a Peake or Dixon, could also slot in here.
Big call: No.6 in the batting order come 2027 is a tough one to tip, but allrounder Beau Webster could fill the spot.Credit: Getty Images
Josh Inglis (WA)
Age in 2027: 32
Alex Carey will be almost 36 in 2027 . He is a fine athlete and leader who keeps himself in mint condition, but the physical and mental demands of the 2026-27 campaign will be huge. Brad Haddin was 37 when he retired, Adam Gilchrist was 36. Carey could get there, but we’ll lean towards Josh Inglis, the white-ball gloveman who can also play as a specialist batter, as highlighted in Galle with a century on debut. Inglis’ batting prowess will keep Carey honest.
Pat Cummins (NSW)
Age in 2027: 34
The fast-bowling brigade is trickier to select. Mitchell Starc will be 37, Josh Hazlewood 36 and Scott Boland 37 come the England trip. It’s doubtful that the current ‘Big Four’, including Cummins, can form the frontline attack, particularly considering the workload of the ’26-27 campaign. Perhaps two will make the trip. We’ll back Cummins, as the youngest of the awesome foursome, to be one, although he may have ceded the captaincy.
Xavier Bartlett (Qld)
Age in 2027: 28
The tall Queensland quick has played white-ball cricket for Australia, and former England captain Michael Vaughan this summer tipped him for higher honours. Bartlett can swing the new ball both ways at pace, and is the “perfect bowler for English conditions”, according to one state Sheffield Shield coach, speaking anonymously to discuss players from rival states. Selection chairman George Bailey has had Bartlett “on the radar for some time”. Jhye Richardson, should he remain fit, is also a candidate. Former Australian fast bowler, and now NSW selector, Geoff Lawson said NSW quick Ben Dwarshuis, 30, would also be in the frame. “He might be the left-hand equivalent of Starc. No-one is going to be the equivalent of Starc, but he has just got better year in and year out,” Lawson said.
On the radar: Xavier Bartlett has the skills to succeed in English conditions.Credit: Getty
Nathan Lyon (NSW)
Age in 2027: 39
As with Steve Smith, it’s tough to leave Lyon out. This was a major debate for cricket insiders contacted for their input. Lyon remains physically and mentally fresh, has just passing the 550 Test wicket mark, and needs only 10 more to pass Glenn McGrath and slip into sixth spot on the all-time list. Australia will want him in India in early 2027, but is England a step too far? Fellow off-spinner Todd Murphy will be 26 by then, and Matt Kuhnemann 30. Kuhnemann’s left-arm finger spin challenges the outside of the bat, but Murphy shapes as the main man.
Lance Morris (WA)
Age in 2027: 29
We think the “Wild Thing” can inflict major damage in England. Capable of topping 150km/h, “he is a definite starter,” another senior state coach said. Cummins has said of Morris: “He has got that intimidation factor, a bit of X-factor. He can create a wicket out of nothing. He has got really good skills for someone who bowls that fast.” Lawson wants Morris to become “smarter” in how he hunts for wickets. He added Queensland quicks Mark Steketee, 31, and Tom Straker, 19, to the mix.
12th man: Jhye Richardson (WA)
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.