Perth, Nov 20 (NationPress) Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett are poised to make their debut for Australia in the first Test of the Ashes at Perth Stadium, with Beau Webster being omitted from the final eleven.

The selectors found confidence in Cameron Green's full return to bowling. Although the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood led to considerations for strengthening the attack, the panel decided to retain four specialist bowlers, backed by Green's all-round capabilities.

Marnus Labuschagne will return to his favored No. 3 position after an impressive start to the season with Queensland, while Nathan Lyon rejoins the side after missing the day-night Test in Jamaica, where Australia opted for an all-pace attack.

This marks the first occasion since 2019—when Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson debuted against Sri Lanka at the Gabba—that Australia introduces two players to their caps in the same Test. It also represents the first time in an Ashes match since Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer debuted at the SCG during the 2010–11 series.

Doggett’s selection, filling in for the injured Hazlewood, is historically significant as it marks the first instance of Australia fielding two Indigenous Test players in the same XI. The 31-year-old has shown strong form for South Australia since recovering from a hamstring injury, claiming 13 wickets at an impressive average of 14.69.

Weatherald will become Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner announced his retirement in early 2024. On Thursday morning, he visualized his innings in the middle at Perth Stadium, followed by an additional session during Australia’s final optional practice.

Webster, who plays alongside Weatherald for Tasmania, is a hard-luck exclusion. Since his debut against India at the SCG earlier this year, he has accumulated four fifties in seven Tests under challenging circumstances. Although his recent performances in the Sheffield Shield were modest, he took eight wickets for Tasmania against South Australia last week.

The revamped Australian batting order sees Green returning to No. 6, a position he occupied early in his Test career, after recent stints at No. 3 in the West Indies and No. 4 before his back injury sidelined him last season.

Josh Inglis, who is scheduled to play for the CA XI against the England Lions during this Test, and Michael Neser are the other players excluded from Australia’s 14-man squad.

Australia XI for the first Ashes Test: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.