According to recent reports from Code Sports, Australia will be going into the Sydney Test with an unchanged squad; however, changes might be made to the playing XI, as Australia are set to play their first match of 2026.
Year 2025 might have come to an end, but the Ashes did not. The final match of the Ashes in the Australian summer is scheduled to be played from the 4th of January. This would mark the first red-ball game of the new year between the two giants of world cricket.
Australia have already sealed a win in the Ashes but would clearly be looking forward to maintaining their winning streak in the WTC; on the other hand, England are on the quest to secure their second win to save their ‘Bazball’ reputation.
Australia to go unchanged for Sydney Test – Reports
Australia have been announcing their squad ahead of every match and has made a handful of changes on every occasion in these Ashes. The squads have been announced based on the availability of players, as they have struggled with several injury blows.
Though Aussies lost their first match of the series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, they will go with the same unchanged squad in the final match of the series. The hosts, however, lost their first Ashes Test on home soil since 2011.
This means that Pat Cummins will not be a part of the squad again, and Steve Smith will be taking up the role as the captain of the Australian team. The Australian veteran lost only his third match as the Test captain for the Aussies.
Australian Squad for the Fifth Ashes Test at SCG
The squad would be the same, which means Usman Khawaja, the veteran left-handed Australian batter, will continue his stay with the Australian side amid retirement rumours. Khawaja, though, might play his last game at the SCG before announcing his retirement.
Australian management has still kept its faith in Marnus Labuschagne, who has severely lacked form in the Ashes series, after coming off a promising season in the Sheffield Shield. Cameron Green might be rested following a very lean patch with the bat.
Squad for Fifth Test: Steve Smith [c], Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster.
Beau Webster, Josh Inglis, and Todd Murphy to return ahead of Fifth Test
Just after the fourth Test, Josh Inglis and Beau Webster were released from the Australian squad to play for their respective teams in the Big Bash League. Beau Webster played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the match against the Renegades.
Josh Inglis also played in Sydney for the Perth Scorchers against the Sydney Thunder side. After having played a match each, they are due to make a return for Australia ahead of the preparations for the final Ashes Test.
Gamecocks’ big three sports ready to leave 2025 behind
