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David Boon's Ashes squad: Big name left out
SEN • August 15th, 2025 1:02 pm
There is no room for Marnus Labuschagne in David Boon’s Ashes squad with the former Australian selector and star bat backing under fire duo Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja to open in Perth.
Debate over Australia’s opening partnership has been raging given the disappointing results at the World Test Championship and the three Test tour of the West Indies in June and July.
Australia lost the WTC to South Africa, where Khawaja and Labuschagne opened, with the latter subsequently dropped for the Windies tour having scored just 17 and 22 at Lord’s.
It meant Konstas got the nod for the Caribbean where he played just his third, fourth and fifth Tests for Australia.
Pressure on the teen was significant given his MCG heroics against India, but there was to be no such repeat in what became an entirely forgettable series where he managed just 50 runs total for an average of 8.3.
Khawaja didn’t do much better with a top score of 47 and an average of 19.5.
Nonetheless, Boon believes selectors will stick with what they know to face England and make big changes once the series is over in January.
“I’ve got to be a bit careful here because if I got too hard one way, George (Bailey) won’t speak to me,” Boon said on SEN Tassie.
“I don’t think there will be that much change in the Perth team. The way it has been selected in the last six months or so, I don’t think there will be much change but there will be change after the Ashes.
“I’d stick with Usman and there’s a choice to make in the second opener. I’d like them to give Konstas a go, with Smith 3, Head 4, Green at 5, Webster at 6, Carey 7 then Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon.”
As for the remaining spots, Boon is hoping to see some new names.
“Boland will be in the squad, then it depends, the second opening position may depend on the four shield games prior to the Ashes.
“There are three names for me: (Jake) Weatherald and then two young talented players (Nathan) McSweeney and (Campbell) Kellaway from Victoria.
“The key is, those that may be in the mix, they have to play those four Shield games for maximum opportunity.”
David Boon's Ashes XI
- Usman Khawaja
- Sam Konstas
- Steve Smith
- Travis Head
- Cameron Green
- Beau Webster
- Alex Carey
- Mitchell Starc
- Pat Cummins
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Hazlewood
