Cricket Australia (CA) has officially named its playing XI for the opening Test of the highly anticipated Ashes 2025–26 series, beginning Friday, November 21, at Perth Stadium. The first Test will mark a significant moment in Australian cricket, with two exciting talents — Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett — set to make their Test debuts in the biggest red-ball rivalry of them all.

While the inclusion of the debutants has generated plenty of buzz, the most significant talking point is the exclusion of Beau Webster. With Cameron Green returning to full fitness as a bowler, Australia opted for four specialist bowlers, which meant Webster narrowly missed out on a middle-order and bowling-all-rounder spot. Green’s availability effectively resolved Australia’s balance concerns, especially with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to injury.

The top order sees a familiar face back in his preferred position, with Marnus Labuschagne returning to No. 3 following a dominant start to the domestic season for Queensland. Australia also welcomed back veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, who was left out of the West Indies Test earlier this year when the hosts gambled on an all-pace attack in the pink-ball contest.

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The opening Test will also be historic. The last time two Australians debuted in the same Test was in 2019 against Sri Lanka, when Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson received their Baggy Greens together. In the Ashes, this has been even rarer — the previous instance came during the 2010–11 series when Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer debuted in the exact match at the SCG.

For Brendan Doggett, this debut is especially memorable. He becomes part of a landmark moment as Australia fields two Indigenous players in a Test XI for the first time. The 31-year-old pacer has been in brilliant rhythm for South Australia, collecting 13 wickets at an impressive average of 14.69 after recovering from a hamstring injury. Across 50 first-class matches, Doggett has already picked up 190 wickets, showcasing the consistency and resilience that earned him his Baggy Green.

Steve Smith and Ben Stokes are all set for the Ashes summer as the fight for the urn begins 🤩🔥#WTC27 | #AUSvENG

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— ICC (@ICC) November 20, 2025

At the top of the order, Jake Weatherald partners with Usman Khawaja. Weatherald has put in hard yards leading up to the match — from visualisation routines to shadow batting under Perth’s bright lights. The left-hander has amassed 5322 runs in 77 first-class games, including 13 centuries and 26 fifties, while also offering a handy leg-spin option.

Beau Webster, meanwhile, will consider himself unlucky. Despite scoring four half-centuries in seven Tests since debuting against India earlier this year — most of them in tough batting conditions — his average returns in the Sheffield Shield worked against him. His eight wickets against South Australia kept him in the conversation, but the selectors ultimately leaned toward a better-balanced bowling unit.

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Cameron Green returns to his original No. 6 spot, having previously experimented at No. 3 and No. 4 before injuries disrupted his role. Josh Inglis and Michael Neser are the others to miss out from the 14-player squad, with Inglis set to feature for the CA XI against England Lions during the Test.

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