Australia has sensationally axed one of the biggest stars of last summer for the first Ashes Test beginning on Friday.
Selectors have made the tough call to drop Beau Webster, opting to bring Cam Green straight back into the fold after the all-rounder missed last summer with a back injury.
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He can consider himself incredibly unlucky.
The Tasmanian has averaged 34.63 with the bat and 23.25 with the ball since making his debut last summer and was one of the few shining lights in a difficult season for the Aussie batsmen.
While Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald will be handed their maiden baggy greens.
Weatherald earned his maiden call-up after being the leading Sheffield Shield run-scorer last season (906 runs at 50.33).
He will take the spot of rising star Sam Konstas, who has struggled for runs since last summer.
He will be Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner retired less than two years ago.
Marnus Labuschagne will bat at first drop for the series opener against England at Perth Stadium, keeping his spot in the side after an impressive start to the Sheffield Shield season.
The players were informed of the decision ahead of their final training session on Thursday.
The squad will be officially announced by stand-in captain Steve Smith will confirm the starting XI when he fronts the media at 3pm AEDT.
While it is a tough break for Webster, it will see Doggett make history, becoming just the third Indigenous cricketer to represent Australia in men’s Test, alongside Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland.
And by taking the field alongside Boland on Friday, the Australian team will become the first in its long history to feature two Indigenous players.
England named a 12-man team on Wednesday, with their final XI to be revealed on Friday.
The first Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at Perth Stadium on Friday at 1.20pm AEDT.
Australia’s XI for first Test in Perth: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett
ENGLAND SQUAD: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Brydon Carse.
