TL;DR
- Australia's Ashes squad faces uncertainty with injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
- England's lineup is also in flux, considering Shoaib Bashir and five fast bowlers.
- Mark Wood is fit for England, potentially leading an all-out pace attack against Australia.
- Australia's predicted XI includes Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja.
As the initial match in the 2025/26 Ashes draws near, the focus has been on Australia's uncertain squad choices. However, doubts also persist regarding England's ideal lineup.
England has kept the Australians uncertain by including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in their 12-player lineup for the initial test, alongside five fast bowlers.
It is likely they will still omit Bashir and pick the five seamers including Mark Wood, passed fit for the series opener having bowled a 'rapid' spell in the nets on Tuesday.
Conversely, the absence of top fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood has significantly disrupted Australia's strategy, particularly with Cummins also stepping down as captain. Their unavailability will undoubtedly cause England to re-evaluate the Australian pace attack on a responsive pitch from a considerably altered perspective.
Michael Neser has been added to the squad by the hosts to provide cover for the upcoming test. Below is a summary of the most recent team updates, anticipated starting lineups, and other crucial information for the initial test.
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Australia vs. England First Test lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
The Australian team's readiness for the initial Ashes match suffered another setback as Josh Hazlewood was sidelined due to a hamstring injury, now accompanying captain Pat Cummins off the field. Hazlewood sustained the injury while representing NSW in the Sheffield Shield; initial assessments indicated it wasn't serious, but subsequent scans revealed a muscle tear. Michael Neser has been brought in to fill the vacancy.
The uncapped Brendan Doggett is now the likely choice for the XI, with Scott Boland nearly certain to take Cummins' place. Boland's home record is impressive, boasting 49 wickets in just nine Tests at an average of 12.63, highlighted by his remarkable 6 for 7 against England at the MCG in 2021. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon will join him, completing Australia's four-person bowling unit.
Sam Konstas is absent from the top of the order following a challenging Caribbean tour, during which the 20-year-old didn't score in double digits in four out of six innings. As Australia has been rotating temporary openers since David Warner's departure, the selectors have selected specialist Jake Weatherald; however, it's more likely that Marnus Labuschagne will open with Usman Khawaja. Fortunately for Australia, Cameron Green is healthy and ready to play as the all-rounder.
From there, the middle order picks itself. Steve Smith, who will captain the side in Cummins' absence, slots in at four, with Travis Head backing him up at five. Beau Webster is a lock at six after bright performances against the West Indies last time out. Alex Carey remains the first-choice wicketkeeper and will slot into the final middle-order position, with Josh Inglis travelling as backup should Australia need to shuffle their options.
Australia predicted starting XI: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith (C), Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (Wk), Mitchell Starc, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon
Injured: Josh Hazelwood (hamstring), Pat Cummins (back)
Reserve: Josh Inglis, Michael Neser, Jake Weatherald
England received a significant boost before the Ashes opener, as Mark Wood has been cleared of a hamstring problem that put his participation in doubt. His availability is a considerable advantage for the Ben Stokes' team, especially considering the Durham fast bowler's capacity to regularly exceed 90mph, a skill England aims to utilize against Australia.
There is every chance the tourists unleash an all-out pace assault in Perth, potentially lining up with Wood, Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson as their frontline seamers. If England decide to be cautious with Wood, then Josh Tongue is waiting in the wings as a ready-made replacement. Shoaib Bashir remains the squad's specialist spinner, although Will Jacks may get the nod thanks to his superior batting. Should England go with a full-speed battery, Joe Root would shoulder the part-time spin duties.
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At the top of the order, Ben Duckett continues to churn out runs with his trademark positive, bat-on-ball method, making him arguably England's most reliable all-format player at present. His partner Zak Crawley remains one of the side's great enigmas. When he's in rhythm, his counterattacking strokeplay can make him look untouchable, yet when things go south, he can seem completely adrift.
Root, who's achieved every batting feat imaginable barring one: a Test century in Australia. He's set to bat at number four in Perth, and England would greatly appreciate him continuing his excellent form on the most significant stage.
Stokes, in peak physical condition and performing at his best, serves as the unifying force. Positioned at number six, with a track record of delivering crucial performances against Australia and providing game-changing bowling spells, he continues to be the vital core of this England team.
England fans have good cause for optimism, given the performance of Harry Brook. He earned the Player of the Series title in the matches against India and is consistently scoring heavily. His first Ashes series saw him achieve an impressive average of 40.33, and he appears to be a more well-rounded batsman currently.
Jamie Smith has rapidly ascended to become England's primary wicketkeeper-batter. His impressive statistics, including an average of 48.86 and two remarkable centuries in only 15 Test matches, clearly demonstrate his impact. It's unsurprising that he's recognized as one of the most promising talents within the England squad.
England predicted starting XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook (vice-captain), Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (Wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood
Injured: N/A
Reserve: Shoaib Bashir
Australia vs. England First Test match details
- Date: November 21-25, 2025
- Start Time: First ball set for 10:20 a.m. Local time (7:50 a.m. IST)
- Venue: Perth Stadium (Perth, Australia)
- Competition: The Ashes
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