Ashes 2027: Who will be the next generation of Australia’s cricketers

A new captain, bold young openers and fresh blood in the fast bowling ranks – Ben Horne predicts what the 2027 Australia team will look like.

Australia might have retained the Ashes, but their hunt to finally win a series in England now extends to 2027.

The team Australia will take to the UK to try and end what will be by then a 26-year drought will look markedly different to Pat Cummins’ team due home on Thursday.

Staring deep into a crystal ball for a future four years’ down the track is always fraught with danger, but CODE Sports cricket writer, Ben Horne has given it a shot.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will be 37 and 36 respectively by 2027 and shouldn’t be written off given the longevity of English rivals Stuart Broad and James Anderson, but the odds are against them returning to the UK.

Australia would love to bank on Will Pucovski as its No. 4 replacement for Steve Smith, and while that still remains possible – the Victorian batting prodigy will need to overcome his head knock problems and put multiple first-class seasons together.

If he can, he is an automatic selection.

By 2027 Western Australia could be the new NSW and be dominating the Test side with up to five players.

But without further ado … here is the Australian touring squad (and what their ages will be in 2027) to take down England in their own backyard once and for all:

Teague Wyllie of Western Australia already has a first-class century. Picture: Getty Images

1. Teague Wyllie (23)

Serious batting talent who at age 19, is already a Sheffield Shield winner, first-class century maker and Australia A representative. Wyllie is the youngest Shield centurion since Ricky Ponting in 1992-93 and could be only a summer or two away from cracking the Test side if he keeps going on the same trajectory.

Ashley Chandrasinghe of Victoria. Picture: Getty Images

2. Ashley Chandrasinghe (25)

In the modern world of bright lights and T20 cricket, it’s rare to find batsmen who still have it in their DNA to bat time – but Chandrasinghe is from the old school. The 21-year-old prodigy made a century on his Shield debut for Victoria and in a separate match soaked up 280 balls in a seven-hour marathon at the crease while teammates dropped like flies at the other end. Chris Rogers will be a great coach for the left-hander.

Marnus Labuschagne would be 33 years old by the next Ashes series in England. Picture: Getty Images

3. Marnus Labuschagne (33)

Steve Smith would be 38 by the time the 2027 Ashes rolls around and will, presumably, be retired. Labuschagne needs to take the baton and lead the next generation of Australian batting. Despite a mediocre Ashes series by his lofty standards, Labuschagne has the game and the determination to be a great of the game in four years’ time.

Cooper Connolly was a hit in the Big Bash series. Picture: Getty Images

4. Cooper Connolly (23)

The long-haired surfer-looking dude from Western Australia became an instant cult hero when he single-handedly powered the Perth Scorchers to a miracle Big Bash Final win over the Brisbane Heat last summer with a couple of massive sixes. Scouts say he is born to be a big moment player. Connolly captained Australia’s under 19s team although is yet to make his first-class debut.

Travis Head is on the rise. Picture: Getty Images

5. Travis Head (33)

Australia will be relying on Head to be a senior statesman in the Test side by 2027 and provided his eye is still sharp, he could be a key figure in the next Ashes tour. Was troubled by England spinner Moeen Ali and needs to keep improving his game against slow bowling. When there’s no Smith, no Warner and no Khawaja in the Australian top four, pressure on Head will rise.

Cameron Green may be skipper next time Australia heads to England to play in the Ashes. Picture: Getty Images

6. Cameron Green (28) captain

Disappointing to be dropped in this Ashes series, but by the time 2027 rolls around, Green should be in the prime of his career. Pat Cummins has already signalled he won’t captain for the rest of his Test playing days, and Green could be the man to step up as the new skipper. Speaks well, calm, collected and super talented. But an important couple of years coming up for him now where Australia needs him to go to the next level.

Alex Carey had a solid 2023 series. Picture: AFP

7. Alex Carey (35)

Australia’s reserve keeper Josh Inglis is three years younger than Carey and will heaping enormous pressure on the South Australian to hold his spot behind the stumps come 2027. But like Adam Gilchrist, Carey’s shot at Test cricket has come late and he should keep developing into a star. Needs to eradicate the occasional error, but overall Carey had a fine Ashes series.

Pat Cummins of Australia poses with a replica Ashes Urn after Day Five of the fifth Test. Picture: Getty Images

8. Pat Cummins (34)

Won’t be captain by 2027 … and only time will tell whether Cummins is still in the Test XI. He is the youngest of Australia’s big three quicks, and there’s no reason why he won’t still be firing aged 34, provided he doesn’t burn himself out. The years’ Cummins had out of the game with injury may mean his body is a bit fresher for the back-half of his career.

Spencer Johnson of South Australia. Picture: Getty Images

9. Spencer Johnson (31)

Was touted as a potential bolter for this Ashes series just gone after being thrust into the Australia A squad to travel to New Zealand. Extremely interesting prospect given he’s already 27 and is a late bloomer. From four first-class matches, Johnson – dubbed ‘The Mild Thing’ – has 20 wickets at 23. There’s something about this tall, left-arm bowler.

Lance ‘Wild thing’ Morris of Western Australia. Picture: Getty Images

10. Lance Morris (29)

You’ve got the ‘Mild Thing’ but you also have ‘The Wild Thing.’ Morris is the most exciting prospect in Australian cricket and should make his Test debut this summer. Australia learnt the hard way from Mark Wood’s injection into the Ashes that you can’t beat raw pace, and Morris is capable of bowling serious 150km/h heat. Game-changer if he can make it at Test level.

Could Nathan Lyon roar again in 2027? Picture: Getty Images

11. Nathan Lyon (39)

The easy call would be to write Lyon off given he will be 39 by the 2027 Ashes, and back in Todd Murphy, who would be hitting his prime at age 26. But if any Australian player can power on into Jimmy Anderson 40th birthday territory, it’s Lyon. He’s fit, durable (this calf injury is his first in 100 Tests) and as an off-spinner, it’s more about the craft than the need for physical prowess. Lyon is so critical for Australia and his injury is the fundamental reason why the team failed to close out the Ashes series from 2-0 up.

Aaron Hardie of Western Australia. Picture: Getty Images

12. Aaron Hardie (28)

Excellent all-round prospect for Australia with a batting average of 42.64 from 26 first-class matches for Western Australia. Appears on the verge of making his ODI debut and has leadership qualities to boot.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Jhye Richardson

The whippet fast bowler will be 30 and will have every chance to prove he is the man to fill the void that will ultimately be left by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood when they bow out of Test cricket.

Josh Inglis

Just needs to stay in the fight and if an opportunity arises to take over as Australian wicketkeeper, he’s the man to take it.

Todd Murphy

Has already proven on his debut Test tours of India and England that he is up to this level and the succession process for him to ultimately follow in Lyon’s footsteps is well underway.

Campbell Kellaway

Young gun Victorian batsman who like Wyllie and Connolly is a prodigy out of the Australian under 19s. Already an Australia A representative and big things await.

Originally published as Ashes 2027: Who will be the next generation of Australia’s cricketers