They will earn their baggy green caps at a sold-out Perth Stadium on Friday
\n PERTH
\nAustralia skipper Steve Smith said Thursday it was \u201creally exciting\u201d to see Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett make their debuts in the opening Ashes Test against England, backing them to perform on the biggest stage.
\nThe pair, both 31, will earn their baggy green caps at a sold-out Perth Stadium on Friday \u2014 the first time Australia have chosen multiple debutants in a Test since early 2019.
\nWeatherald\u2019s inclusion as Usman Khawaja\u2019s sixth opening partner since David Warner retired last year means in-form Marnus Labuschagne can return to his favoured number three.
\nLabuschagne was dropped ahead of Australia\u2019s mid-year Test tour of the West Indies after an extended lean spell but came roaring back with five centuries in eight innings this season for Queensland.
\nIncumbent number three Cameron Green edged out Beau Webster as the all-rounder and will now come in at six, behind Smith at four and Travis Head at five.
\n\u201cI watched him bat in the nets pretty closely the last few days and they were pretty tricky nets, fast, bouncy and a lot of seam,\u201d Smith, standing in as captain for the injured Pat Cummins, said of Weatherald.
\n\u201cAnd you know, he\u2019s got a lot of courage. He wants to face bowlers the entire time, and the guys were charging in fast.
\n\u201cI\u2019m really excited for him. He\u2019s worked hard for a long period of time and I think he\u2019s going to complement Uzzie (Khawaja) pretty well up top.\u201d
\n\u2018Improved a hell of a lot\u2019
\nDoggett, an outstanding bowler in domestic cricket over recent years, will pull on an Australia shirt for the first time after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a hamstring strain.
\nCummins is also missing as he returns to fitness from a back injury, replaced by Scott Boland.
\nBoland and Doggett lead the pace attack alongside Mitchell Starc, with Smith confident they will rise to the occasion.
\n\u201cInjuries happen in sport, particularly in cricket with fast bowlers, they put a lot of stress through their bodies,\u201d said Smith.
\n\u201cSo unfortunate, obviously, that those two are out, but I think an exciting opportunity for Scotty and for Brendan Doggett.
\n\u201cBrendan\u2019s been on a few tours with Australia.
\nHe is very skillful. I think he\u2019s improved a hell of a lot the last few years and I\u2019m excited to see him go about his business.\u201d
\nNathan Lyon, in his 140th Test, provides the spin option with the veteran generally thriving on home soil, where he has bagged 268 of his 562 Test wickets at an average of 31.08.
\nHe needs two more to surpass Glenn McGrath and become the sixth-highest wicket-taker in history.
\n\u201cIt looks a good wicket, pretty similar to last year\u2019s one,\u201d said Smith. \u201cI think it\u2019s going to have some decent pace and bounce in it.\u201d
\nEngland drew 2-2 at home in the most recent Ashes series, in 2023, but have not won in Australia since 2010\/2011.
\nThe visitors have named a squad of 12 for the first Test and will confirm their team at the toss.
\nAustralia team: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
They will earn their baggy green caps at a sold-out Perth Stadium on Friday PERTH Australia skipper Steve Smith said Thursday it was \u201creally exciting\u201d to see Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett make their debuts in the opening Ashes Test against England, backing them to perform on the biggest stage. The pair, both 31, will […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":515834,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-515821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n