Australia has named an unchanged 14-man squad for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, choosing not to rush captain Pat Cummins back from injury. The decision comes after the hosts secured an eight-wicket victory in Perth, a win that has afforded them the luxury of patience with their premier fast bowler.
Cummins, who is recovering from a lower-back stress fracture, has been bowling in the nets with the pink ball but has been deemed not yet ready for a Test return. He will, however, travel with the squad to Brisbane, leaving the door ajar for a potential late inclusion. Fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood also remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring issue.
The comfortable series lead has also intensified the spotlight on Australia’s batting order. Opener Usman Khawaja, who was hampered by back spasms during the first Test, now faces pressure on his position after Travis Head’s blistering 69-ball century as an emergency opener. Should Head be promoted permanently, it would create a vacancy in the middle order, with Josh Inglis and all-rounder Beau Webster among the candidates to step in.
Khawaja, speaking at a charity event, revealed the extent of his Perth injury, stating he was prepared to receive an epidural injection if needed to bat in England’s second innings. The veteran batter also delivered a blunt assessment of the Perth Stadium pitch, contradicting the ICC match referee’s “very good” rating.
“There were 19 wickets on the first day, about 20 people got hit – that’s a great wicket, that seems real fair?” Khawaja was quoted as saying. He described the day-one surface as “a piece of shit,” noting that while conditions improve on days two and three, they deteriorate again by day four. His comments underscore ongoing concerns about pitch consistency at the venue.
With the series moving to a day-night contest at the Gabba, England faces a critical challenge to level the series. Australia, meanwhile, can retain the Ashes with a second consecutive victory, a prospect strengthened by their decision to prioritize the long-term fitness of their key players over short-term risk.