Legendary Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting picked his playing XI for the Ashes opener against England that is set to be played in Perth from November 21. He handed debuts to both Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett and went on to snub in-form all-rounder Beau Webster from the team.
Australia without multiple key players
With both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood set to miss the first Test due to injuries, Australia's bowling attack has become significantly weaker. The onus will now be on Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland to lead the attack alongside Doggett, who will be playing his first-ever Test for the Baggy Greens.
On the other hand, with Sam Konstas not present in the squad for first Test, it is likely that Weatherald will also be handed his maiden Test cap. Ponting picked Weatherald, Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne as the top three batters in the order. Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green and Alex Carey were picked as the next batters in the order while Starc, Doggett and Boland were chosen as the three pacers in the XI. Ponting picked Nathan Lyon as the only proper spin option with Labuschagne and Head being the part-time options present in the team.
“I feel that Australia's best team has Jake Weatherald opening the batting along with (Usman) Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne at three. He’s (Labuschagne) done absolutely everything that's been asked of him over the last month, scoring hundreds at will, coming back into the side at No.3," Ponting said on the ICC Review.
"Steve Smith (at) four, Travis Head (at) five, Cameron Green (at) six, Carey (at) seven. With (Scott) Boland, (Mitchell) Starc, probably Doggett gets the nod ahead of Michael Neser and Nathan Lyon, who was always going to play anyway, I think that will be Australia's team," he added.
Ponting's XI for first Ashes Test: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.
England announce squad for 1st Test
Meanwhile, England have announced a 12-member squad for the first Ashes Test. One notable ommision from the squad is that of Jacob Bethell. They have opted to go for a total of five pacers in Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. Shoaib Bashir has been picked as the only proper spin option with Joe Root present as the part-time option.
England's squad for first Ashes Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.