Australia have announced their playing XI for the first Ashes Test in Perth, naming two debutants.
Australia drop Beau Webster, hand debuts to Weatherald, Doggett
Australia will go into the Perth Test with two debutants: opener Jake Weatherald and fast bowler Brendan Doggett. This has meant all-rounder Beau Webster will miss out after having debuted against India in the New Year's Test this year and being a part of every Test XI Australia have fielded since then, including in the World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Also read: How Jake Weatherald won bat-off against other Australian openers to make Ashes squad
Marnus Labuschagne, meanwhile, returns to the lineup at No.3 after being dropped during the West Indies series. Cameron Green, whose bowling workloads have been carefully managed since his return from injury, is set to slot in at No.6 as the all-rounder.
In the bowling department, Australia had been dealt two huge blows with captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both ruled out due to injuries. Scott Boland and the debuting Doggett will replace the two quicks in Perth, with Mitchell Starc leading the pack. Nathan Lyon rounds off the attack as the only spinner.
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Two debutants aged 31-plus: A 105-year first
This will be the first time that Australia are fielding two debutants in a Test match since the Brisbane Test against Sri Lanka in 2019, when Jhye Richardson and Kurtis Patterson made their bows in the format.
The last time two Australians were handed Test debuts in an Ashes game was in the 2011 New Year's Test in Sydney, when Michael Beer and Usman Khawaja earned their first Test caps.
However, with Weatherald and Doggett both aged over 31 at the time of their debuts, one would have to go as far as 1920 to find the last instance of Australia fielding two Test debutants aged 31-plus: the Sydney Test against England in 1920 where seven Australians made their debuts, of which Herbert Collins, Arthur Mailey, and Jack Ryder were aged more than 31.
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Australia XI for first Ashes Test
Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.
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