Australia Announces Squad for Final Ashes Test Against England

Australia has officially announced its squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, starting January 4 in Sydney. With regular captain Pat Cummins sidelined due to injury, Steve Smith will take the helm. The team management has decided to rest Cummins for the remaining matches to ensure his fitness for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Usman Khawaja, amidst retirement speculations, retains his spot in the squad. The Australian team aims to recover from a recent defeat against England in the Boxing Day Test. Read on for more details about the squad and player performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 1, 2026, 15:09 IST

Australia's Squad Announcement for the Ashes

According to information confirmed by Cricket.com.au, Australia has revealed a 15-member squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, set to commence on January 4 in Sydney. In the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, experienced batsman Steve Smith will continue to lead the Australian team. Cummins has been sidelined due to a lower back injury, which prevented him from participating in the first two Tests of the Ashes series against England.

Cummins' Return and Team Management Decisions

Cummins made his return to the team and captained Australia during a match at Adelaide Oval, leading to a victory that secured the Ashes for the host nation. However, the Australian management has opted to rest Cummins for the remaining matches of the Ashes series to manage his workload and ensure he is fit for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka. The right-arm fast bowler is also expected to be part of Australia's potential squad for this prestigious tournament.

Usman Khawaja Retains His Spot Amid Retirement Speculations

Meanwhile, amid retirement rumors, 39-year-old Usman Khawaja has retained his place in the squad for the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney. Throughout the ongoing Ashes series, Khawaja has made his mark as a long-standing opener for Australia. He was unable to bat during the second innings of the Perth Test due to back spasms and missed the Brisbane Test, initially being left out of the Adelaide Test as well. However, he was called back to bat at number 4 due to Steven Smith's illness, which kept Smith out of the Test.

Khawaja's Performance in the Ashes Series

In the fourth Ashes Test against England, Khawaja batted in the middle order alongside Travis Head and Jack Weatherald. The left-handed batsman scored 29 runs off 52 balls across both innings, with one dismissal for a duck. In the ongoing Ashes series, Khawaja has accumulated 153 runs at an average of 30.60 over three matches and five innings, including a half-century in Adelaide. The host team will aim to bounce back in the upcoming Sydney Test after suffering a four-wicket defeat against Ben Stokes' England in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.