Aussies swing axe in brutal Ashes call as new-look XI revealed

One of the biggest stars of the last Aussie summer has been sensationally axed ahead of the Ashes as part of a major team shake-up.

Australia has sensationally axed one of the biggest stars of last summer for the first Ashes Test beginning on Friday.

Selectors have made the tough call to drop Beau Webster, opting to bring Cam Green straight back into the fold after the all-rounder missed last summer with a back injury.

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He can consider himself incredibly unlucky.

The Tasmanian has averaged 34.63 with the bat and 23.25 with the ball since making his debut last summer and was one of the few shining lights in a difficult season for the Aussie batsmen.

Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Beau Webster of Australia poses for a photo after three of the Fifth Men's Test Match in the series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 05, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

While Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald will be handed their maiden baggy greens.

Weatherald earned his maiden call-up after being the leading Sheffield Shield run-scorer last season (906 runs at 50.33).

He will take the spot of rising star Sam Konstas, who has struggled for runs since last summer.

He will be Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner retired less than two years ago.

Marnus Labuschagne will bat at first drop for the series opener against England at Perth Stadium, keeping his spot in the side after an impressive start to the Sheffield Shield season.

The players were informed of the decision ahead of their final training session on Thursday.

While it is a tough break for Webster, it will see Doggett make history, becoming just the third Indigenous cricketer to represent Australia in men’s Test, alongside Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland.

Weatherald and Doggett will become the 472nd and 473rd men to play Test cricket for Australia.

Marnus Labuschagne talks with Beau Webster during an Australia nets session. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

“Brendan Doggett is a good bowler, very good bowler,” Mike Hussey told Betfair and The Overlap’s Stick to Cricket show.

“The challenge for him is coming in for your first Test match with so much hype, an Ashes series. It’s all the external distractions. You can’t prepare anyone for that.

“To come in in your very first game and deal with all the external stuff, the extra media, the extra crowds, the hype of the fans, that’s going to be the challenge.

“I think he seems like a very level-headed guy. Yeah, I wish him all the best. I think he’ll do well.

By taking the field alongside Boland on Friday, the Australian team will become the first in its long history to feature two Indigenous players.

England named a 12-man team on Wednesday, with their final XI to be revealed on Friday.

The first Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at Perth Stadium on Friday at 1.20pm AEDT.

Australia’s XI for first Test in Perth: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett

ENGLAND SQUAD: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Brydon Carse.

Originally published as Aussies swing axe in brutal Ashes call as new-look XI revealed