Debutant named in Australia’s Ashes squad, Steve Waugh takes aim at selectors

Australia’s squad for the first Ashes Test has been named with the selectors making a bold choice for the opening batting position.

Matthew Sullivan

6 min read

November 5, 2025 - 2:51PM

Australia has named a 15-man squad for the first Ashes Test with the selectors naming a debutant to open the batting in a bold call.

The first Test gets underway in Perth on November 21 and the main dilemma facing Australia’s selectors is who to pick to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.

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Chief selector George Bailey has revealed the squad, naming Jake Weatherald as the man who has won the race for the chance to get first crack opening the batting in Perth.

Matthew Renshaw had emerged as a contender to open the batting on the back of solid form for Queensland at Sheffield Shield and domestic 50-over level, while looking composed in Australian colours in the recent ODI series against India.

The left-handed Renshaw, 29, has played 14 Tests for Australia since his debut in 2016, most recently on the 2023 tour of India.

Sam Konstas, Jake Weatherald and Matt Renshaw.

But the selectors opted for Weatherald, who has scored 248 runs at an average of 41.33 for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield this season and topscored with 906 runs at 50.33 last season.

Picking Weatherald over Renshaw is somewhat of a gamble given Weatherald is yet to play Test cricket — the 31-year-old could yet be left out if selectors move Marnus Labuschagne up to open the batting.

Bailey said Weatherald’s selection does not mean he is certain to make his Test debut or open the batting.

“What’s impressed us about Jake, if you look at his performances over the past 18-24 months, it’s been really solid,” he said.

“And then there’s a method there that we like and is complementary to those other players around him in the squad. He scores at a good rate. The way he goes about building his innings has been impressive.”

Australia’s squad for 1st Ashes Test: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

Jake Weatherald is set to play the first Ashes Test. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Young gun Sam Konstas was snubbed from the squad altogether, while Australian white-ball captain Mitch Marsh wasn’t picked after a late push with some strong form in the ODIs against India.

Bailey said he and the fellow selectors still “really like” Konstas, despite his omission.

“I feel for Sammy at the moment because if he farts at the moment it’s a headline,” Bailey said.

“There’s a handful of young guys his age playing Shield cricket around the country and they’re all learning and they’re all going through a journey to become the best cricketer they can be. Sammy’s no different to that, he just seems to be doing it with immense scrutiny at the moment.”

He said the message for Konstas is to “keep it simple”.

There was no room for Sam Konstas in the Ashes squad. Picture: Michael Klein

After being dropped for the tour of the West Indies earlier this year, Labuschagne has earned a recall, scoring five centuries for Queensland in eight innings across the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup.

All-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster have both been named in the squad, although it remains to be seen if both players will fit into Australia’s final XI.

Green is expected to bowl 15 to 20 overs for Western Australia in the next round of Sheffield Shield, with selectors hoping he can be fit to bowl in time for the first Test.

Pat Cummins will travel with the squad to Perth as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture in his back, with Steve Smith to act as stand-in captain in his place.

Josh Inglis has been named as a back-up batter, while Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett are the spare bowlers.

Steve Waugh takes swipe at selector

Former Test captain Steve Waugh has called on Bailey and fellow Australian selectors Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald to make some tough calls.

Presenting the Ashes trophy at the SCG on Wednesday, Waugh said it was crucial for the selectors to eventually bring in new players to manage the impending retirements of Australia’s ageing team.

“George Bailey’s going to have to make some tough calls and I think in the past, he hasn’t really had the appetite for that at times, so he’s going to have to step up to the plate with the other selectors because it is a time of transition,” Waugh said.

Steve Waugh with the Ashes silver trophy. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

Chief selector George Bailey. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“The bowlers are in their 30s and some of the batsmen are getting on as well, but that’s natural for every team. You just want to make sure that three or four players don’t go out at the same time. That leaves a big hole in the team. So they got to just make sure that it is a transition, but not all at once.

“I’d like to see the selectors pick the sides, not the players. There’s been a lot of players recently picking sides and saying who should be in the team. That’s the selectors’ job.”

Khawaja, who will turn 39 during the Ashes, had backed his Queensland teammate Renshaw, saying: “He’s looked the part, which he always does when he goes to the next level. You feel like he is the one guy who actually belongs at the next level.

“Obviously, I am a little biased because he’s a friend of mine and he has been there and done it. He has scored 180 for Australia. He has been in and out of the Australian team, and I think that’s a really good thing.”

Bailey responded to Waugh’s earlier criticism, saying: “They (senior players) weren’t in the selection meeting.

“We’re aware of the age profile of the team. I’m interested to hear people with that view to share who they would like us to leave out. Nathan Lyon and Mitch Starc out just because of their age?

“There’s other ways of attacking that. We’ve invested heavily in Australia A cricket. We’re rolling some young guys through. There’s been some debuts. There’s been people on tours.”

Konstas snubbed from Ashes squad

Sam Konstas has had a horror start to the domestic season for NSW and former Test Waugh said on Wednesday he feels a “a little bit sorry” for the youngster.

Konstas, 20, has made just 122 runs in six Sheffield Shield innings so far this season, a period that was always going to determine whether he held onto his spot for the Ashes.

It leaves him 28th on the run-scorers’ list, behind players including Victorian fast bowler Fergus O’Neill, who has scored 157 runs.

Having burst onto the Test scene in incredible fashion last summer against India, Konstas was overlooked for the World Test Championship final but was then recalled for the three Tests against the West Indies in the middle of the year.

Sam Konstas has struggled for NSW so far this season. Picture: Michael Klein

“I feel a little bit sorry for Sam Konstas, who’s been in and out of the side a bit,” he said.

“It actually reminds me of myself when I first started playing for Australia. Not fully confident of being in the side and form a bit not quite there.

“He’s probably lacking a bit of confidence, so I don’t think they’ll go for him in the first Test (against England).”

“At the end of the day, it’s really hard to learn how to play Test cricket while you’re playing Test cricket,” Waugh continued.

“That’s what happened to me for a couple of years. I wasn’t really that finished product.

“I’d go back to Shield cricket, try and build some long innings, bat for as long as you can, and just get to know your game really well, and then you walk out to play for Australia confident in what you’re doing.