Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett are each set to make their Australian Test debuts as the public side prepares for the opening Ashes match at Perth Stadium. Beau Webster is the unfortunate omission from the final XI, despite a steady run of form.
Pickers were satisfied after Cameron Green completed a full return to bowling, giving them the confidence to stick with four frontline bowlers, indeed with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood unapproachable.
Green’s all-round capability offers pivotal balance, allowing Australia to retain their favoured structure.
Marnus Labuschagne returns to his favoured No. 3 position following a strong launch to the season for Queensland, while Nathan Lyon also reclaims his spot after missing the day-night Test in Jamaica, where Australia compactly regressed to an all-pace attack.
Australia Hand Two Debut Caps for First Time in Years
This will be the first time since 2019 that Australia has introduced two debutants in the same Test, harking back to Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson’s first outing at the Gabba.
It is also the first such instance in an Ashes match since Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer debuted at the SCG during the 2010–11 series.
Brendan Doggett’s inclusion carries historical weight. With Josh Hazlewood sidelined, Doggett was in and became part of the first Australian Test XI to include two Indigenous players.
The 31-year-old has been in excellent touch for South Australia, taking 13 wickets at 14.69 after returning from a hamstring strain.
Weatherald to Partner Khawaja at the Top
Jake Weatherald will become Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner retired in early 2024. On Thursday morning, he spent time visualising his potential first Test innings out in the middle, followed by additional work during Australia’s optional training session.
Beau Webster, Weatherald’s teammate at Tasmania, misses out despite a strong start to his Test career. Since debuting against India before this time, he has scored four fifties in seven matches under challenging conditions.
Although his last couple of Sheffield Shield jaunts were quieter, he still managed an emotional eight-wicket haul for Tasmania against South Australia last week.
Green Returns to His Old Role in Shuffled Batting Order
Since debuting against India before this time, he has scored four fifties in seven matches under difficult conditions.
Although his last couple of Sheffield Shield jaunts were quieter, he still managed an emotional eight-wicket haul for Tasmania against South Australia last week.
