Australia captain Pat Cummins and paceman Josh Hazlewood will miss another Ashes Test due to injury, while opening batter Usman Khawaja, who experienced back spasms in Perth, has been retained in an unchanged squad for the second match in Brisbane.
Australia, leading the series 1-0 after an eight-wicket victory over England in Perth, will once again be captained by stand-in skipper Steve Smith. Mitchell Starc will spearhead the pace attack alongside Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett.
Cricket Australia confirmed that Cummins will travel with the squad, as he did for Perth, despite being unavailable to play. The decision comes after coach and selector Andrew McDonald had previously stated Cummins would have until the last moment to prove his fitness for the Gabba Test, starting December 4. Cummins has been sidelined since July due to a lumbar stress injury, sustained during Australia’s tour of the West Indies.
Hazlewood, part of Australia’s elite pace trio with Cummins and Starc, continues to recover from a hamstring strain that ruled him out of Perth. While Cummins bowled at near full pace in a Sydney nets session on Friday, Hazlewood worked off shortened run-ups alongside reserve seamer Sean Abbott, who is also recovering from a hamstring injury.
Khawaja, who was unable to open in Perth due to back spasms, retains his spot, though his position is under review. Travis Head’s match-winning 123 as opener in Perth has fueled debate over the top-order lineup.
Australia squad for Brisbane:
Steve Smith (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
