Last Updated on 6 months ago by Charbel Coorey

Australia’s team for the Ashes has been a hot topic of debate in recent months. Who should open with Usman Khawaja? Should Khawaja be picked at all given his struggles against pace in recent years? Who bats three? Is there room for both Cameron Green and Beau Webster?

The current Australian management have often prioritised playing who they perceive to be the best six batsmen in the country. It looks very likely this will be the case again for the first Ashes Test in Perth.

Predicted Australia 11 for the opening Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series

Note: This article is based on the 11 I think Australia will select for the first Ashes Test. Here’s my ideal team.

Openers: Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne

According to Fox Sports, Marnus Labuschagne is set to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja. However, Mitchell Marsh looms as a wildcard option for later in the series, as per CODE Sports.

Australia picked Labuschagne to open in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa. Although he missed out, it seems the Aussies are keen to try this combination again with a full series ahead.

It is widely expected that incumbent opener Sam Konstas will lose his spot to focus on domestic cricket. Also, the likes of Matt Renshaw and Jake Weatherald reportedly haven’t done enough to make the cut, despite the latter enjoying an excellent run of form since the start of last season.

Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head

According to reporter and former cricketer Theo Doropoulos, Cameron Green will stay at number three. Steve Smith and Travis Head will bat at four and five.

Green has batted at three in four Tests so far. He struggled in the first couple of matches – including the WTC Final – but started to show more promising signs on difficult batting pitches in the second-half of the West Indies series.

Number six: Beau Webster

Beau Webster is set to retain his spot at number six. The all-rounder has already played some important knocks in his seven-match Test career on surfaces that have been conducive to bowling.

Cameron Green has only bowled four overs in top-level cricket since returning to action from a back injury. Webster’s inclusion will give Australia another bowling option.

Wicket-keeper: Alex Carey

A given. A series of this nature may require another important Alex Carey innings or two.

Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland

Scott Boland will play after Pat Cummins was officially ruled out of the Perth Test. He will partner Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

The debatable selection is whether Nathan Lyon should play. However, the offspinner has a good record at Perth’s Optus Stadium, and his overspin and drop can serve as a weapon as the England batsmen will likely go after him.

Australia’s predicted 11 for the opening Ashes Test at Perth: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Nathan Lyon, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Scott Boland.