Australia named an unchanged 14-player squad Thursday for the second Ashes Test, keeping faith with the team that demolished England inside two days despite captain Pat Cummins remaining unavailable.
Cummins will miss his second consecutive Test after selectors decided not to rush him back from a lumbar stress injury. Fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood also remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Steve Smith will continue as captain for the day-night Test in Brisbane starting December 4. The decision rewards the makeshift team that claimed an eight-wicket victory in Perth.
“The squad gives us continuity after a strong performance in Perth,” said chief selector George Bailey.
Cummins’ comeback postponed
Cummins trained extensively at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, bowling lengthy spells with the pink ball ahead of the Gabga’s day-night conditions.
But selectors chose caution over urgency, opting to give Australia’s premier fast bowler extra recovery time rather than risk aggravating his back injury.
The 32-year-old captain will travel with the squad to Brisbane to continue his rehabilitation program. He’s now targeting a return for the third Test in Adelaide beginning December 17.
“Once we see him again we’ll be able to then join the dots as to what that potentially looks like,” coach Andrew McDonald said earlier this week.
McDonald acknowledged the rapid two-day finish in Perth forced minor changes to Cummins’ bowling schedule. The captain had originally planned to bowl on what would have been day four, but the quick finish pushed that back.
The signs remain encouraging for Cummins’ return. If he plays in Adelaide and the match extends to five days, an eight-day gap follows before the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Cummins previously suggested playing back-to-back Tests might challenge him physically. However, short matches like Perth’s two-day finish could work in his favor.
Hazlewood’s longer road back
Hazlewood faces a more conservative rehabilitation timeline after suffering his hamstring strain playing for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield a week before the Perth Test.
He’s been working through the early stages of recovery and joined Cummins for net sessions this week. Significantly, he bowled with a red ball rather than the pink Kookaburra to be used in Brisbane.
“He’s working through the first week of his rehab,” McDonald said Monday. “Once he gets further down the track and [we] have some rough timelines, then we’ll be in a position to communicate that.”
McDonald expressed confidence Hazlewood would play a role later in the series but stressed there would be “no shortcuts” in his recovery.
The right-armer’s initial scan didn’t reveal the full extent of the injury, necessitating a careful approach to avoid setbacks.
Doggett’s reward
The unchanged squad means Queensland seamer Brendan Doggett looks certain to retain his place after an impressive debut in Perth.
The 31-year-old claimed five wickets in the match, vindicating selectors’ decision to include him in Australia’s first-choice attack.
Doggett joins Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and allrounder Cameron Green as Australia’s pace quartet for the Gabba. Spinner Nathan Lyon completes the bowling group.
Starc produced a match-winning performance in Perth, claiming 10 wickets including career-best figures of 7 for 58 in England’s first innings. His mastery with the pink ball makes him particularly valuable for the day-night conditions in Brisbane.
Boland bounced back from a difficult opening day where England scored freely off his bowling. McDonald took responsibility for instructing Boland to bowl fuller than his natural length.
“It was a directive for him to bowl very full before returning to his natural lengths in the second,” McDonald admitted.
Boland’s second-innings burst proved game-changing, helping Australia dismiss England cheaply twice.
Smith continues as captain
Smith handled the captaincy duties impressively in Perth, rotating his bowlers effectively and backing Lyon to attack despite helpful pace-bowling conditions.
The former captain’s astute field placements and bowling changes helped Australia maintain pressure throughout England’s brief innings.
Smith will now prepare for the unique challenges of day-night cricket, where conditions can shift dramatically under lights. The pink ball typically moves more than the red ball, particularly in the final two sessions.
Khawaja’s fitness question
Veteran opener Usman Khawaja remains in the squad despite uncertainty over his fitness.
Back spasms prevented Khawaja from batting in Perth’s second innings. Travis Head replaced him as opener and smashed the second-fastest Ashes century in history.
Medical staff will assess Khawaja when the squad assembles in Brisbane. If declared fit, he’s expected to resume his position at the top of the order.
However, Head’s explosive 69-ball century has created a selection dilemma. The left-hander hammered England’s bowlers in a devastating display that helped Australia chase down 205 in just 28.2 overs.
“I feel like over the last few years I’ve got a blueprint and a tempo [for how] I want to go about things,” Head said this week. “I just wanted to get the ball to certain parts of the ground to score, and all my mind was on was scoring runs.”
Head indicated he’s comfortable batting anywhere the team requires, giving selectors flexibility.
If Khawaja fails to prove his fitness or selectors opt to continue with Head as opener, reserve batsman Josh Inglis or allrounder Beau Webster could enter the XI.
McDonald said Australia had “a lot to consider” regarding their batting order.
The Perth demolition
Australia’s eight-wicket victory was one of the most dominant Ashes performances in recent memory.
England collapsed for 227 in their first innings despite reaching 142 for 2. Starc’s seven-wicket haul triggered the collapse as England lost their last eight wickets for 85 runs.
Australia replied with 284, taking a 57-run lead. England fared even worse in their second innings, bowled out for just 147.
Chasing 205, Australia lost just two wickets. Head’s blistering century and Jake Weatherald’s composed contribution ensured both debutants made meaningful contributions.
The match finished before lunch on day two, leaving England shell-shocked and Australia supremely confident heading to Brisbane.
The Gabba fortress
Brisbane’s Gabba has historically been Australia’s strongest venue. The hosts famously hadn’t lost a Test there since 1988 until India broke the streak in 2021.
The day-night conditions add extra intrigue. The pink ball typically swings more under lights, particularly in the final two sessions. Fast bowlers who can exploit that movement become especially dangerous.
Without Cummins and Hazlewood, Australia’s attack lacks some experience. But Perth proved Starc, Boland, and Doggett can be devastating when conditions suit.
England will seek revenge after their Perth humiliation. Ben Stokes’ side arrived in Brisbane on Thursday but opted against pink-ball match practice for their first-choice XI.
Only unused squad members Jacob Bethell, Matthew Potts, and Josh Tongue will feature in the weekend warm-up against a Prime Minister’s XI.
England will hold their first Gabba training session Sunday afternoon, followed by a session under lights Monday.
Looking ahead
The unchanged selection philosophy reflects Australia’s preference for stability when winning.
Team management believes rewarding success builds confidence and reinforces performance-based selection. There’s also recognition that the makeshift attack proved it can exploit conditions effectively.
With four Tests remaining, Australia wants its frontline quicks fully fit for the series’ back end rather than risk short-term gains.
The strategy gambles that Starc, Boland, and Doggett can maintain their Perth form. If they struggle in Brisbane, questions about Cummins’ absence will intensify.
For now, selectors have placed faith in continuity over rushing their captain back.
The squad
Australia (14): Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
Injured: Pat Cummins (lumbar stress), Josh Hazlewood (hamstring)
Match details: Second Test, Gabba, Brisbane, December 4-8, day-night Test
Series situation: Australia lead 1-0 after Perth win
The decision to stick with the winning combination demonstrates Australia’s confidence in their depth. Whether that faith proves justified will be tested under the Gabba lights when England seeks to level the series. For Cummins and Hazlewood, the wait continues. Both will hope the team’s success in their absence doesn’t delay their returns further as the series progresses.
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