Australia's selectors chairman George Bailey defended sticking with the test side's veteran core for the Ashes on Wednesday following criticism from former captain Steve Waugh about the team's ageing profile.

Australia have announced a 15-member squad for the first Ashes 2025-26 Test, beginning on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

England test captain Ben Stokes has been handed a two-year central contract that takes him through to a home Ashes series in 2027.

Steve Smith has been called up to lead the Australian team for the first Test in the upcoming home Ashes series against England, with skipper Pat Cummins still not fully fit to start the series. Australia named the 15-member squad for the opening Test in Perth.

But before we look ahead to the resumption of cricket’s oldest fiercest rivalry, it is important to look back as to why it all started. This enmity of the field is something that is close to 150 years old, 143 to be exact. That’s spanning well over a century and its origins lie in the name itself. Yes, it is linked to real ashes.

There have been several interesting changes in team selection. Marnus Labuschagne has made a comeback. As a result, Sam Conners has been dropped from the team. Meanwhile, Brendan Doggett has returned to the Australian team after seven years.

And additionally, a trio of uncapped players are in with a shot of a Test debut in Perth, while a quartet of domestic stars can consider themselves unlucky with their snubbing from the squad. Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

It is a fair comeback from his rocky first season in Hobart. Weatherald played just one Shield game in his first season after leaving South Australia during the preceding '23-24 season as Caleb Jewell, Tim Ward and Charlie Wakim were all preferred over him.

However, Webster missed the first two rounds of the Sheffield Shield with an ankle injury, while he managed scores of 11 and 6 during last week’s match against Victoria in Melbourne. “I think he’s going to be really unlucky if he misses out because I think he deserves his spot in the team. He’s been great since he started,” Waugh said of Webster.

National Selection boss George Bailey on Wednesday morning confirmed Weatherald’s place in the squad over incumbent opener Sam Konstas. Weatherald topped the Sheffield Shield run charts last summer averaging over 50 opening the batting. He and in-form ...