Australia have dropped young opener Sam Konstas from their Ashes 2025 squad for the first Test, starting November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, with senior batter Marnus Labuschagne winning back his spot in the 15-man squad after strong performances in the domestic circuit for Queensland.
The hosts have also named three uncapped players for the series opener against England, including 31-year-old batter Jake Weatherald, who could be in with a chance to make his international debut as opener, replacing Konstas.
Meanwhile, Labuschagne could return to his favoured No.3 spot in the batting order after plundering five centuries in seven games across formats for Queensland. After a string of poor scores and Australia’s World Test Championsip final defeat to South Africa in June, Labuschagne was subsequently dropped from the side for the West Indies tour.
Veteran opener Usman Khawaja’s most recent opening partner, Konstas, has been dropped entirely from the squad following a dismal performance in the Test campaign in the Caribbean, where he managed scores of just 3, 5, 25, 0, 17, and 0. Neither Matthew Renshaw nor Mitch Marsh was selected, despite both being seen as potential picks. The selectors have only named a squad for the first of the five Tests.
“We are looking forward to the squad connecting and preparing in Perth leading on from a busy domestic and white-ball schedule to kick off the Test summer,” CA selection chief George Bailey said.
“The squad gives us good balance and, with 14 of those chosen playing the next round of Sheffield Shield, we will continue to gather information as we move closer to the start of the first Test.”
Ashes 2025 squads
Australia squad: (First Test only): Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
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England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood