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SELECT 👉 Hagley Oval feed
The one Aussie change Fleming would make
Andrew Slevison • December 3rd, 2025 2:21 pm
Damien Fleming would replace Usman Khawaja with Josh Inglis over Beau Webster for the second Ashes Test.
Veteran opener Khawaja was ruled out of his hometown Gabba Test due to the back injury that plagued him during the first Test triumph.
It seems highly likely that Perth hero Travis Head will open again but who replaces Khawaja in the XI?
It has been reported by Code Sports that Inglis has been recalled to the XI ahead of Webster.
And former Aussie quick and SEN Cricket’s Fleming has a clear view of what should happen selection-wise in Brisbane.
“The question now is does Head open? I would do that,” Fleming said on SENQ Breakfast.
“Then who comes in? I’d probably go with Josh Inglis who scored 100 on debut against Sri Lanka.
“That’s a hard call on Webster but we’ve already got an all-rounder in Cam Green.”
There is a slim chance that both Inglis and Webster are called into the XI at the expense of spinner Nathan Lyon who was barely used in Perth.
But Fleming wouldn’t be getting that bold at the selection table.
“There’s obviously a bit of conjecture about Nathan Lyon. He didn’t play the last day/night Test in Jamaica which was a green seamer,” he added.
“I’d be keen to play Lyon. I just think with his experience and that extra bounce at the Gabba. To be able to rotate the quicks would be crucial.
“For me the only change would be Inglis for Khawaja.”
Fleming’s SEN Cricket colleague Simon Katich wasn’t quite as decisive in his assessment of the situation.
The former Aussie opener can’t quite split Inglis and Webster but is confident whoever is called up will deliver for their nation.
“It sounds like it’s only between Inglis and Webster and it’s a tough one,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Webster probably didn’t deserve to miss out in the first place, he hasn’t done much wrong.
“Inglis made a hundred at Lilac Hill and he’s done nothing wrong either.
“So it’s a 50-50 for mine. You could get both in but that would mean someone like Nathan Lyon misses out which is a big call. He didn’t get much bowling in Perth.
“This rests on what Steve Smith wants. Ultimately the skipper has to know who he is going to use in these conditions.
“It’s hard for me to speculate, but either of them will do a good job because they’re both coming in in good form.”
Meanwhile, England has made one change with batting all-rounder Will Jacks, who balls off-spin, replacing injured quick Mark Wood.
The second Test at the Gabba kicks off at 2pm local time (3pm AEDT) on Thursday. Listen to every ball LIVE across the SEN network.
