Ashes 2025-26 Player-by-player guide to squads

Australia have injury doubts while England's captain has unfinished business, write Geoff Lemon and Ali Martin

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Australia

Pat Cummins

Age 32 Caps 71 Captain/right-arm fast/right-hand bat

While technically not in the squad for the first Test while recovering from a back injury, Cummins remains captain in the full-time sense, and will still go to Perth with the coaching staff. Leadership aside, he recently passed 300 wickets while averaging 22.10.

Steve Smith

Age 36 Caps 119 Vice-captain/ right-hand bat/right-arm leg-spin

Etched into English minds for his run-hunger from 2015 to 2019, when his series tallies topped 500, then 600, then 700, Smith's returns have been modest in his past two Ashes, averaging in the 30s. He got back into gear last season against India. Smith will also captain when Cummins cannot.

Sean Abbott

Age 33 Caps 0 Right-arm medium-fast/right-hand bat

The perennial tourist, Abbott has been Mark Twaining around the world for what feels like a decade. His elevation over others is curious given a modestly decent domestic career, but he is valued for the all-round talent he offers in being able to hit a length, whack a ball, and devour a catch. He will miss the first Test with a hamstring injury.

Scott Boland

Age 36 Caps 14 Right-arm medium-fast/right-hand bat

The breakout hero of the last southern tour, Boland burst into the spotlight with six for seven at the MCG, an Indigenous player becoming the first Australian to win the Johnny Mullagh Medal. But Australia's depth has limited him to 13 more Tests. He does his damage in bursts. Fresh off a hat-trick in Jamaica, he has 62 wickets at an 1800s average of 16.53.

Alex Carey

Age 34 Caps 43 Wicketkeeper/left-hand bat