The latest Ashes chapter has been run and done with the 2023 drawn series to go down as one of the closest fought series in history.
Australia will return from their eight week English odyssey with the World Test Championship mace and the coveted little urn in their possession, but the quest for a breakthrough series victory on English soil will extend to 22 years.
But just as the cricket schedule moves on, all eyes quickly move to the next Ashes battle which will be back on Australian soil in the summer of 2025/2026. Who takes the field for Australia will be a source of intrigue.
Many of the current Australian team are well into the twilight of their careers with the 2023 tour described as a “legacy defining” tour for Pat Cummins and his team.
However, with both the Australia and England sides poised to undergo significant personnel changes before the next contest heats up.
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Foxsports.com.au has cast its eye forward and named their starting XI and 15 man squad for the 2025/2026 Ashes series.
Eleven of the 17 man 2023 touring party have retained their place in the team or in the squad for the next series. But Australia looks poised to have a new opening combination with the impending retirements of David Warner and Usman Khawaja.
Warner has already called his end date in the whites at the SCG this coming summer while Khawaja, at 36 years of age currently might look to call time soon.
Batting prodigy Will Pucovski misses out. If the elegant opener can put his battle with concussion behind him and return to regular action with Victoria he will surely be in the mix, but until he can do that Australia will have to look at other options.
BOTH openers exit early on Day 5 | 00:54
There is also no room for Josh Hazlewood who by the time the summer of 2025/26 comes around, will be deep into the twilight of his career. Hazelwood has built his reputation as one of the world’s best limited – overs bowlers in recent seasons and has battled with injury troubles in a bid to maintain fitness in the longest form of the game.
As such, the New South Welshman might have chosen to become a white-ball specialist at this point as the scene becomes more lucrative.
STARTING XI
Matt Renshaw
Included in the touring party this tour and will be one of the first cabs off the rank to fill the soon to be vacant positions at the top of the order. After shifting back up to the top for Queensland in recent seasons and fighting his way back into the national conversation, Renshaw will still only be 29 years old when the next Ashes rolls around and might finally get his chance to have a home Ashes series. David Warner also annointed the left-hander as his natural successor
Teague Wylie
The teenager has burst onto the Australian cricket scene and has already been tipped for a big future in national colours. Selected on the recent Australia A tour to New Zealand pre the 2023 Ashes, Wylie having only recently made his First-Class debut for Western Australia will be given time to build and mature his game, but a debut as a bolter up the top with positions available could be in the offing as Australia looks to its next generation of openers.
Marnus Labuschagne
After an underwhelming series and being usurped as the number one ranked batter in the world, the hunger for runs against England will only grow for Australia’s number three. Will be 31 years old the next time the Ashes are hosted at home. And you8 can bet your bottom dollar that it’s a date that Labuschagne will have circled in his calendar already.
Cheeky Broad antics sees Marnus depart | 00:31
Steve Smith
One more time with feeling? Maybe!
Despite constant flirtations and hints that the end might be near for one of the greatest we’ve ever seen, Steve Smith is adamant that he isn’t retiring and looking to play on for a little while longer. At 36 years old, it could be his final lap around doing what he does best? Scoring runs against England?
Travis Head (c)
The South-Australian has cemented himself as a critical member of the Australian batting unit over the last two years and is still just entering his pomp and best form as a Test batter. Will be 32 years old and could very well be captain of the side when England come to town next.
Cameron Green
The prodigiously talented all-rounder found himself on the wrong side of the selection call for the final Test but remains the focal point for Australian selectors as the team undergoes its period of regeneration. Still a young man with his best cricket ahead of him, Green will be an even more established cricketer in 18 months’ time with new experiences and no doubt, more responsibility.
Alex Carey (wk)
The gloveman’s tidy work in the opening matches ultimately played the biggest role in helping Australia retain the urn in what was a series of two halves for the South Australian. Will be 33 years old but after his performances to date in his Test career, coupled with wicketkeepers traditionally starting their Test careers late and playing well into their 30s, Carey will have sights on completing the cycle and taking on England at home once again.
Pat Cummins
The current Australian skipper should remain the leader of the attack. Whether he has the captaincy tag at 33 years old when England arrive next remains to be seen but Cummins will still be Australia’s main man with the ball in hand. One final Ashes cycle at home before returning to England to wrap up what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career will be a wonderful way to finish.
‘Just that little bit short of the goal’ | 00:35
Mitchell Starc
The leader of the Australian attack still has plenty of petrol left in the tank and the choice of how he wants to use it is firmly up to him. The left-armer has always prioritised playing for Australia and currently sits fifth on the list for most Test wickets for Australia. The long-time leader of the attack will be pushing 36 years –old when England comes around next and poised to become just the second Australian paceman to reach the 100 Test milestone, It might just be his last lap around with the cap he so dearly loves on his head.
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Nathan Lyon
After the cruel ending at Lord’s, Nathan Lyon will be desperate to have another go at the Poms. So much so he’s already flagged that the 2027 tour back to England isn’t entirely out of the question for the champion off-spinner. Lyon will be 37 years old when England comes around next. While the future is in safe hands with Todd Murphy, Lyon might be fired up to have a final say in his Ashes journey.
Lance Morris
‘The Wild Thing’ solidified his spot as one of the next in line to the big three after his inclusion around the Test squad last summer and being awarded a Cricket Australia contract for 2023/24. Wasn’t considered for selection on this tour due to a back injury ruling him out but has time on his side. Will be 27 years old when England come around and will be poised to have his first crack at the old enemy in his home conditions. The Australians were rattled by the pace of Mark Wood in England and could fight fire with fire by selection the fastest bowler in Australia.
SQUAD MEMBERS
Henry Hunt
Recently viewed as a man not too far away, the South Australian opener is in the minds of the Australian selectors with recent outings for Australia A and the Prime Ministers XI last summer. Seven first class hundreds in 37 matches to date, Hunt is entering the prime of his career and with changes afoot, a national squad berth might not be too far off.
Aaron Hardie
The Western Australian all-rounder has been rising in the domestic circles for several years but now appears on the cusp of national selection. In his mid-twenties and putting together his best cricket, Hardie is poised to rival his state teammate Cameron Green for the all-rounder position in the not too distant future as he continues his push for higher honours.
Josh Inglis
So often the understudy, Inglis has claimed both the T20 World Cup and a World Test Championship winner’s medal without playing a single game in either tournament. The backup wicketkeeper among the group, Inglis will be 30 years old when England comes around next. Whether he has made his Test debut by then remains to be seen.
Todd Murphy
The only stumbling block to Murphy not being included in the starting XI is Nathan Lyon. If Lyon decides to go on to this Ashes series then Murphy will be relegated to running the drinks, but it should not deter the young Victorian one bit after he secured his role as the GOAT’S eventual successor as Australia’s number 1 tweaker. Having just only played 20 First class matches to date (six of them being Test matches), the future for the Victorian is bright and long in the national setup.
