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SN streams down, restoring ASAPWhateley: Australian batting order makes so much sense
Andrew Slevison • December 4th, 2025 9:28 am
Australia’s likely batting order for the second Ashes Test makes perfect sense to Gerard Whateley.
Various outlets reported on Wednesday afternoon that Josh Inglis will make his Test return at the Gabba, coming into the XI to replace the injured Usman Khawaja with first Test hero Travis Head set to resume duties as opener.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith didn’t confirm the reported Inglis return at his press conference but it appears as if the 30-year-old, who made a century on Test debut against Sri Lanka in January, will play.
And if Head does happen to open alongside Jake Weatherald again it gives the Aussie batting order a very nice balance, according to SEN Cricket’s Whateley.
“I do think they’re settled in the strategy they’ve taken,” Whateley said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Inglis won’t bat anywhere other than five and it settles Cam Green at six.
“The order makes such good sense to me now. That partnership between Weatherald and Head should be allowed to be explored for the next four Tests. They look like such natural running mates.
“Because they’re both dashers you’ve got a pair of insurance policies next in (Marnus) Labuschagne and (Steve) Smith who can do either. They can drop anchor and restore an innings or they can surf on the momentum.
“Then you’ve got the heavy hitters in Inglis and Green, and (Alex) Carey is very useful, he can do either as well.
“So it’s the first time really since David Warner’s retirement, I think, that the batting order makes really good sense. It has great chemistry and it’s a very natural order.
“I wouldn’t be inclined to meddle with that now. I’d give that time to settle and prosper.”
The Australian XI will not be announced until the toss of the coin later today.
As for England, Whateley firmly believes that Ben Stokes and his charges must learn lessons from the eight-wicket Perth defeat to salvage the series.
He was asked if the Poms can win at Brisbane’s Gabbatoir - a venue they’ve struggled at over the years.
“It wouldn’t absolutely shock me if it was 1-1,” he replied.
“I thought England’s great chance was Perth and that Australia would win the pink-ball Test in Brisbane.
“So now England has to win Australia’s Test, and they don’t have much background in pink-ball cricket. The record at the Gabba might be a bit nullified by the change of conditions but it has been a slaughterhouse for England historically.
“I don’t feel any reason to be bullish about England other than the way they play. They’ll land knockout blows at various stages and I’m sure they’ll probably win a Test match but I was more optimistic for them heading into Perth than I am having seen them once.
“I would hope they’d have learned some of the lessons from Perth and at least put them into place in Brisbane. Because if they go down the same reckless way I just think that is scourge for the series.”
The second Test at the Gabba kicks off this afternoon at 2pm local time (3pm AEDT) and you can hear evener ball LIVE across the SEN network.
