Australia Playing XI vs England for 1st Ashes Test 2025 announced

Published - 20 Nov 2025, 10:32 AM | Updated - 20 Nov 2025, 10:34 AM

Australia XI for Perth Test. Image Credit: X

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Cricket Australia (CA) announced the Australia XI for the opening Test of the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 series against England, starting on Friday, November 21, at Perth Stadium in Perth, with two talented youngsters making their debuts in the whites.

Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett are all set to make their Test debuts in the first Ashes Test against England in Perth.

However, Beau Webster failed to make the cut for the playing XI. Cameron Green’s successful return to bowling meant that Australia went with four frontline bowlers.

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Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett set for Ashes debut in Perth

This decision can be surprising, as the captain, Pat Cummins, and star pacer, Josh Hazlewood, will be unavailable due to injuries. Well, Green’s fitness solved their bowling puzzle, allowing the team management to back a combination of pace and spin without adding extra bowling options.

Marnus Labuschagne returns to his preferred No. 3 position after an outstanding start to the domestic season with Queensland, while the experienced spinner Nathan Lyon is recalled after being left out for the West Indies Test when Australia fielded an all-pace attack in the day-night Test.

Baggy Green milestones in Ashes 2025-26

Meanwhile, the five-match Test series opener will witness a historic moment as two players will earn their first Baggy Greens in the same Test. The last time this happened was in 2019 against Sri Lanka, with Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson making their Test debut.

However, it will be a rare instance in Ashes, as Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer were the only pair who made Ashes debuts in the same game during the 2010-11 series at the SCG.

Well, Brendan Doggett’s Test debut is particularly significant, as it will be the first time Australia fields two Indigenous players in a Test XI.

The 31-year-old fast bowler has been in excellent form for South Australia since returning from a hamstring injury earlier this season, taking 13 wickets at an average of just 14.69. Doggett already has 190 wickets in 50 FC matches to his name so far.

On the other hand, Jake Weatherald will open the innings with Usman Khawaja in Perth. He has been preparing thoroughly, doing visualisation drills and shadow batting in the middle of Perth Stadium before participating in Australia’s final optional training session.

Beau Webster, unlucky as Jake Weatherald and Cameron Green set to shine for Australia

Weatherald, a left-arm batter and an optional leg-spinner, has already amassed 5322 runs in 77 FC matches with the help of 13 centuries and 26 fifties so far.

Unfortunately, Beau Webster, who plays alongside Weatherald for Tasmania, will feel unlucky to miss out. Webster has smashed four half-centuries in seven tests since making his debut against India at the SCG earlier this year, and that too in all challenging batting conditions.

However, the star all-rounder has been an average batter in the Sheffield Shield so far, but impressed with eight wickets against South Australia.

Additionally, Cameron Green moved back to No. 6, where he began his Test career, after having batted at No. 3 in the West Indies and No. 4 before a back injury ruled him out of last season.

Josh Inglis and Michael Neser are the other two players left out of the 14-player squad. Inglis is expected to play for the CA XI against the England Lions while the first Test is underway.

Australia Playing XI for the first Ashes Test vs England: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (C), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett

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Cameron Green Brendan Doggett Jake Weatherald Australia National Cricket Team Australia vs England The Ashes England National Cricket Team England vs Australia