Steve Smith, stand-in captain of Australia, announced their playing XI for the opening match of The Ashes 2025-26 series, which is scheduled to take place on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Burswood, Australia. As per the predictions made by the former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting, Cricket Australia named two debutants for the highly anticipated Test series. 

Opener Jake Weatherald and pacer Brendan Doggett are the two debutants who will play the Perth Test. The Australia team management has tried to balance the top order by coupling Jake with experienced international Usman Khawaja. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will operate as the number 3 and number 4 batters, respectively. While Mitchell Starc will be in the front to lead the pace bowling attack along with Scott Boland and Doggett as their two prime pacers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, are ruled out of the match because of injury concerns. Nathan Lyon will be out there in the middle to help the team with quality spin bowling.  

"Brendan's been on a few tours with Australia. He is very skillful. I think he's improved a hell of a lot the last few years, and I'm excited to see him go about his business," Smith said about the debutant pacer Brendan Doggett.

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The inclusion of Labuschagne is an exciting call by the team management. The top-order batter was dropped from the team during the World Test Championship Final against South Africa in June, followed by the three-match tour of the Caribbean against the West Indies. 

"Marnus, when he's batting at his best at No. 3, he makes us a very good cricket side. We couldn't really leave him out after he came back and did exactly what was told of him," Smith said during the playing XI announcement. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Australia XI: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.