Australia captain Pat Cummins and fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood will sit out one other Ashes Take a look at with harm whereas opening batter Usman Khawaja has been retained in an unchanged squad for the second match in Brisbane.
Cummins sat out his facet’s two-day win at Perth Stadium attributable to an ongoing again subject, however had bowled sharply within the nets throughout the build-up and seemed to be monitoring effectively for an look on the Gabba.
He did additional health work and bowled at stand-in skipper Steve Smith throughout a observe session in Sydney on Friday, however was subsequently disregarded as Cricket Australia named an similar 14-strong group.
There was no clarification for Cummins’ absence, with a short accompanying assertion merely stating: “Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations. The squad assembles in Brisbane from Sunday.”
With the 32-year-old readily available in Queensland, it’s not exterior the realms of risk he may very well be added to the squad within the coming days however it might be an irregular transfer having made the preliminary name to go away him out.
Whereas Australia received with out Cummins’ enter within the sequence opener, his ongoing absence nonetheless represents a serious increase for England.
Mitchell Starc, participant of the match for a 10-wicket exhibiting in Perth, could also be Take a look at cricket’s main wicket-taker in day/evening video games with 81, however Cummins is joint second on 43 having performed 5 fewer than his left-arm team-mate.
With a mean of 17.34, a strike-rate of a wicket each 37.2 balls and a better of six for 23 – taken on the Gabba in 2019 – he’s a world-class operator underneath the lights.
With Hazlewood additionally out as soon as once more, Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland will once more again up Starc.
Opener Khawaja can be retained regardless of struggling again spasms that curtailed his involvement all through the primary Take a look at and noticed Travis Head take over at opener with a match-winning effort within the fourth innings.
Whether or not he holds his spot within the XI stays to be seen, with Josh Inglis recent off a century in opposition to the England Lions and all-rounder Beau Webster readily available as an extra seam possibility.
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Atherton and Hussain talk about whether or not Joe Root’s legacy as an all-time nice will likely be impacted if he fails to attain an Ashes century in Australia
Australia second Take a look at squad
Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Inexperienced, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
Ashes sequence in Australia 2025-26
All instances UK and Eire
- First Take a look at (Perth – November 21-25): Australia beat England by eight wickets
- Second Take a look at (day/evening): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third Take a look at: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (11.30pm) – Adelaide Oval
- Fourth Take a look at: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Floor
- Fifth Take a look at: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Floor
