Ashes 2025: Starc IN, Cummins & Kontas OUT, Australia Reveal Squad for 1st Test vs England
Cricket Australia has announced their squad for the Ashes 2025 1st test against England. Mitchell Starc is back in the test team after skipper Pat Cummins and Sam Kontas have been ruled out of the series opener. Some new faces will be part of this high-pressure test series between Australia and England.
The biggest threat for England, Mitchell Starc is back in the Australia Test squad after recovering from injury and will be leading the bowling department in the Ashes 2025. Steve Smith will lead the team as captain for the first Test in the absence of Pat Cummins. Smith’s experience and leadership skills will give confidence to the Australian camp.
Australia Ashes 2025 Squad Key Highlights:
Mitchell Starc Returns: Starc is back in the Australian test squad in Cummins’s absence.
Pat Cummins & Sam Kontas OUT: Cummins not part of squad due to injury, while young batter Sam Kontas was not selected after poor performances in previous series.
Steve Smith Captain: Steve Smith back as captain, but only in the absence of Pat Cummins.
Travis Head as Vice-Captain: Travis Head is also part of Australia’s test squad, and he is now the vice-captain of the team.
New Test Debutants: Jake Weatherald, Brendan Doggett, and Sean Abbott might debut for Australia in the Ashes 2025.
Jake Weatherald to debut as Opener in First Test:
Australia named three uncapped players in the squad, including Jake Weatherald. He is replacing Sam Kontas as opener for the first test, and it’s going to be a tough task for him to perform in a high-pressure game against England.
Sam Kontas didn’t perform well in the last series therefore Australia doesn’t want to go with an out of form opener in the much-awaited Ashes 2025. Marnus Labuschagne has retained his position in the Australia test squad after giving an impressive performance in the domestic cricket for Queensland.
Labuschagne scored five centuries across seven games for Queensland. He will be playing at no.3 in the 1st test against England. Ashes 2025 is all set to start from November 21, 2025, at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Australia Squad (First Test only):
Steve Smith (Captain), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland.
England Squad for Ashes 2025:
Ben Stokes (Captain), Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir.
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