Ashes 2025-26: Australia names XI for first Test against England
Australia will unveil two fresh faces against England on Friday after swinging a brutal axe at selection.
Beau Webster has been axed from the first Ashes Test in place of dual debutants Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett.
It will be the first time Australia will debut a fast bowler since 2021 and the first time it will unveil two in a match in nearly seven years.
While Weatherald’s debut all but confirmed Webster’s exit from the XI, he was realistically dumped because of Cameron Green’s return to bowling.
Green got through last week’s match for Western Australia unscathed and performed strongly with the bat.
Weatherald’s selection means Marnus Labuschagne will return to the side in his preferred No.3 position.
Labuschagne was vying to join Usman Khawaja at the top of the order but forced his way back to No.3 through five tons in seven matches for Queensland.
The attacking left-hander banged selector George Bailey’s door down by topping the Sheffield Shield run charts last summer.
Doggett, a fast outswing bowler, was poised to debut at soon as Josh Hazlewood pulled up lame in last week’s match for NSW.
Doggett’s inclusion is a slice of history, with he and Scott Boland becoming the first Indigenous pair to play in the same Australian Test XI.
AUSTRALIA:
Jake Weatherald (debut)
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith (captain)
Travis Head
Cameron Green
Alex Carey
Mitchell Starc
Brendan Doggett (debut)
Nathan Lyon
Scott Boland
Originally published as Ashes 2025-26: Australia names XI for first Test against England
