Australia can usually claim they’re the best cricket team in the world. World Test Champions in 2023. Clear at the top of the world rankings. Six-time ODI world champions.
And are they better than England? Bloody oath! They’ve held the Ashes since 2017, and haven’t lost to the Poms in Australia in fourteen years.
But this time around, they’re facing a few questions. Will their captain be fit? Do they have to pick two openers? Is thirty old?
Australia’s top-three troubles have been well documented, and a week out from the series, no-one really knows what the line-up will look like. With captain Pat Cummins out for at least the first Test, and backup bowler Sean Abbott now missing, their bowling depth is also a concern.
Public Enemy Number One, ex-England bowler Stuart Broad, has called this the “worst Australian team since 2010” – and plenty down under are only disagreeing out of spite.
So let’s look ahead at the squad that are preparing to defend the urn.
Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Michael Neser*, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
Steve Smith (c)
Back in temporary charge, which was bound to be controversial – but this is a man who leads from the front, and does his best work against England.
Usman Khawaja
Tailed off at home recently, and at 39, this is his swansong – what legacy will he leave?
Jake Weatherald
After a couple of seasons of consistency and aggression, he could receive the ultimate reward of an Ashes debut.
Marnus Labuschagne
Dropped after a couple of poor years, he has returned to imperious form with five hundreds in eight domestic innings this season – surely forcing his way back into the XI.
Cameron Green
Nearly back to full bowling fitness, and starting to find his middle-order niche across formats, it could be a big series for the only man under 30 in the squad – that is, if he gets into the team.
Travis Head
Head has quietly had a pretty rubbish year by his standards – his average and strike rate in Test cricket are lower than any year since 2020, and he has fallen off in T20Is too – but back on his own turf, England could be taken apart by Australia’s own Bazballer.
Alex Carey
He still goes a bit unnoticed in this Australian batting line-up, but Carey has grown to be an integral part of the team – mixing solid keeping with the ability to resurrect an innings, often with a surprisingly aggressive approach.
Josh Inglis
He hasn’t played a first-class match since the first Test in the Caribbean in June, but Inglis’ white-ball prowess has made him a mainstay of the Test squad – would he be ready to keep for a long time if Carey goes down?
Beau Webster
The standout Sheffield Shield player of recent times, who has hardly put a foot wrong since his first cap, still seems in danger of being dropped if Green is fit to bowl.
Michael Neser* – replaced Josh Hazlewood
Airlifted in after three fast bowlers went down injured, Neser is a solid all-round performer with two Test caps – but Australia will be hoping he doesn’t have to add to those.
Brendan Doggett
Eleven wickets in the Sheffield Shield final last year elevated Doggett to within one or two injuries of a long-awaited Test debut – and with two five-wicket hauls this season, he looks ready.
Mitchell Starc
Australia’s pace devil loves nothing more than a first over against England – dismissing Zak Crawley with the first ball of the series could genuinely be enough to evaporate English hopes.
Nathan Lyon
No-one would be surprised if Lyon is still holding down an end for Australia aged 50, but even still, this could be his last home Ashes series – and there might never be another spinner like him.
Scott Boland
One of the strangest Test careers ever – he made his debut aged 32, took 6-7 against England at the MCG, and has only played 13 Tests since – Boland will have to try and recreate his magic against a much better English team.
And of course, the men who couldn’t make it:
Josh Hazlewood
Often the least celebrated of Australia’s legendary bowling quartet, Hazlewood reminded the world that he’s one of the best to ever do it with a devastating T20I new-ball spell against India two weeks ago.
Pat Cummins
The captain, who has led Australia to extraordinary success while being unconventionally nice, couldn’t recover from a back injury in time for Perth – but if he returns for the second Test, he will hit the ground running.
