नवीनतम
Australia name 5th Ashes Test squad
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Australia on Thursday announced a 15-member squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, scheduled to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as confirmed by Cricket Australia.
In the continued absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, senior batter Steve Smith will lead the Australian side.
Cummins, who missed the opening two Tests of the series due to a lower back injury, returned for the Adelaide Test and captained Australia as the hosts secured victory to retain the Ashes.
However, team management has opted to rest the pace spearhead for the remainder of the series to manage his workload and ensure his fitness ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Cummins has already been named in Australia’s provisional squad for the global tournament.
Usman Khawaja, amid speculation surrounding his Test future, has retained his place in the squad for the Sydney Test. The 39-year-old began the series as Australia’s first-choice opener but has endured a disrupted campaign.
Khawaja did not bat in the second innings of the Perth Test after suffering back spasms, missed the Brisbane Test entirely, and was initially left out in Adelaide before being recalled to bat at No. 4 due to Smith’s illness.
In the fourth Test at Melbourne, Khawaja featured in the middle order alongside Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, scoring 29 and a duck across the two innings. Overall, he has accumulated 153 runs from three matches at an average of 30.60 in the series, with a lone half-century coming in Adelaide.
Australia will be aiming to regroup in Sydney after suffering a four-wicket defeat to Ben Stokes-led England in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
The squad for the fifth Ashes Test includes Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, and Beau Webster.
