AUSTRALIA TEST SQUAD

The Australian Test squad for the WTC Final 2025 is a formidable blend of seasoned veterans and exciting new talent, exemplifying their consistent high performance in the longest format of the game. Led by the dynamic pace and astute captaincy of Pat Cummins, the team boasts a potent bowling attack with fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, both long-standing pillars of the Australian pace battery, alongside the spin wizardry of Nathan Lyon, who continues to dominate on varied pitches. The batting line-up is anchored by the experience and class of Steve Smith and the steadfast opening presence of Usman Khawaja, both prolific run-scorers. The middle order features the aggressive and impactful Travis Head, an Allan Border Medalist, and the disciplined Marnus Labuschagne, a consistent performer at number three. Emerging all-rounder Cameron Green, returning from injury, provides crucial balance with his batting prowess and bowling potential. Behind the stumps, Alex Carey is a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman who has also set new records with the bat. The squad also integrates promising youngsters like Sam Konstas, a young opener who has shown immense potential, and Josh Inglis, a versatile wicketkeeper-batsman who has already made an international century on debut. With a strong inner belief and a history of turning challenging situations into victories, this Australian Test squad is a testament to their enduring strength in world cricket.

PLAYER NAME	ROLE	STYLE	JERSEY NUMBER
Pat Cummins (Captain)	Bowler	Batting: Right-hand Bowling: Right-arm Fast	30
Travis Head (Vice Captain)	Batter	Batting: Left-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Offbreak	62
Josh Hazlewood	Bowler	Batting: Left hand Bat Bowling: Right arm Fast medium	38
Scott Boland	Bowler	Batting: Right hand Bat Bowling: Right arm Fast medium	26
Alex Carey	Wicketkeeper	Batting: Left-hand Bat	4
Cameron Green	Allrounder	Batting: Right-hand Bat Bowling: Right-arm Fast medium	42
Usman Khawaja	Batter	Batting: Left-hand Bat Bowling: Right arm Medium	1
Marnus Labuschagne	Allrounder	Batting: Right-hand Bat Bowling: Legbreak	33
Peter Handscomb	Wicketkeeper	Batting: Right hand Bat	54
Nathan Lyon	Bowler	Batting: Right-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Offbreak	67
Steven Smith	Batter	Batting: Right-hand Bat Bowling: Legbreak Googly	49
Mitchell Starc	Bowler	Batting: Left-hand Bat Bowling: Left arm Fast	56
Mitchell Marsh	Allrounder	Batting: Right hand Bat Bowling: Right arm Medium	8
Todd Murphy	Bowler	Batting: Left-hand bat Bowling: Right arm Offbreak	9
Matthew Kuhnemann	Bowler	Batting: Left hand Bat Bowling: Slow Left arm Orthodox	50

About Australia Test Squad

Captain – Pat Cummins
Vice Captain – Travis Head
Head Coach – Andrew McDonald
Batting /Bowling Coach – Michael Di Venuto/Dan Vettori
Fielding Coach – Andre Borovec

Key Events and Series

Australia’s recent Test cricket journey has been packed with significant series:

• Ashes 2023: This series served as Australia’s initial major test in the new WTC cycle. Despite being severely challenged by England’s ‘Bazball’ approach, Australia resiliently drew the series 2-2, successfully retaining the urn.
• Home Dominance (Pakistan and West Indies Series): Following the Ashes, Australia showcased their strength at home. They secured a commanding 3-0 victory against Pakistan. However, they faced a more challenging series against the West Indies, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Some observers expressed concern that losing a Test to the West Indies at home wasn’t an ideal sign for the team.
• New Zealand Tour (March 2024): Australia continued their winning ways with a clean 2-0 series victory over New Zealand.
• Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Home Series vs. India): Australia triumphantly reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 3-1 victory against India, ending a decade-long wait to regain the coveted trophy. This series was widely described as a fierce battle between “two hugely talented and confident teams.” However, some fans have noted Australia’s four consecutive Test series losses to India, including two at home, which they found “shambolic.”
• Sri Lanka Tour: Australia achieved a significant milestone by securing their first series victory in Asia in over a decade with a 2-0 series win in Sri Lanka.
• World Test Championship Final (2025): Australia is set to play South Africa in the final at Lord’s. Their anticipated playing XI for this crucial match includes Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.

The Australian team’s path to the WTC Final 2025 has been defined by a strong inner belief and an impressive ability to transform defeats into wins, all while maintaining a “cool head and attitude hot.”

Records and Achievements

Australian cricketers have consistently achieved notable records and garnered significant awards:

• Josh Hazlewood was named the Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year on February 3, 2025, receiving 20 votes and narrowly surpassing Travis Head. During the voting period, Hazlewood took an impressive 30 wickets at an average of 13.16 in just five Tests.
• Travis Head earned the prestigious Allan Border Medal and was also named the Men’s ODI Player of the Year for his impactful performance in 2024, scoring 1399 runs in 35 innings with four centuries and five half-centuries.
• Alex Carey equaled the record for most catches in a match by a wicketkeeper during Australia’s 2-0 victory over New Zealand in March 2024. He also achieved his highest Test score of 156 in Asia, which is the highest by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia.
• Josh Inglis joined a select group of Australian cricketers—including Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Shane Watson, and Beth Mooney—to have scored international hundreds at Test, ODI, and T20 levels when he scored a century on his Test debut in Galle, Sri Lanka.
• Sam Konstas was recognized as the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year.
• Beau Webster was named the Men’s Domestic Player of the Year.
• Michael Bevan, a former Australian batter, was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

In terms of team achievements during the WTC cycle, Australia’s bowling attack has been exceptionally effective, with Pat Cummins (73 wickets), Mitchell Starc (72 wickets), Nathan Lyon (63 wickets), and Josh Hazlewood (57 wickets) being crucial to their success.

Famous Players

Several prominent Australian cricketers, both current and historical, have left their mark:

• Pat Cummins (Captain): Cummins is the current captain of the Australian Test team. He was instrumental in the Ashes 2023, sharing over 40 wickets with Mitchell Starc, and also led the bowling attack against Pakistan with 19 wickets. He has been a key performer in the WTC cycle with 73 wickets.
• Steve Smith: A veteran batsman, Smith’s temporary absence due to a right little finger injury (compound dislocation) impacted the squad for the West Indies series. He was in a splint for eight weeks but aimed to return for the second Test. Smith scored twin centuries in Galle during the Sri Lanka tour. He is considered one of Australia’s batting pillars, and along with Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, scored ample and quality runs in the WTC cycle. The team’s evolution is underway with Smith “closer to 40 than 30.”
• Marnus Labuschagne: Recently dropped from the Test squad for the West Indies series after an “extended lean patch” and “twin failure” (scores of 17 and 22) in the World Test Championship final where he was pushed to open. His last Test century was in the 2023 Ashes, and his average in 2025 is down to 16.16. Despite being dropped, he remains valued by selectors, with coach George Bailey expecting him to overcome the challenge positively, stating “Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team.” He is rumored to open for the WTC final.
• Usman Khawaja: A veteran opener, Khawaja was the leading run-scorer in the Ashes 2023 with 496 runs. He will open alongside Marnus Labuschagne in the WTC Final. Like Smith, Khawaja is nearing 40, indicating upcoming changes in the team’s top order. He is a key run-scorer in the WTC cycle.
• Travis Head: A “hard-hitting middle-order batter,” Head played a pivotal role in reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, notably with a 143-run innings in Perth. He is a key performer in batting during the WTC cycle and is expected to have another 5+ good years in him. He won the Allan Border Medal and Men’s ODI Player of the Year.
• Josh Hazlewood: A key part of the pace attack, Hazlewood won the “race” against Scott Boland to play in the WTC Final. He stood out with 14 wickets against the West Indies at home and contributed 57 wickets in the WTC cycle. He was also named the Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year.
• Mitchell Starc: A crucial fast bowler for Australia, Starc shared over 40 wickets with Pat Cummins in the Ashes 2023. He is also a key performer in the WTC cycle with 72 wickets.
• Nathan Lyon: A veteran spinner, Lyon took a six-wicket haul in the New Zealand series and excelled on spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka. He is a key performer in the WTC cycle with 63 wickets.
• Cameron Green: An all-rounder, Green played his first Test since back surgery in the WTC final. He delivered a career-best performance in the New Zealand series, scoring an unbeaten 174 runs. He is seen as having the talent to be the “lynchpin” of Australia’s batting lineup for the next decade and won the Community Impact Award.
• Alex Carey: The wicketkeeper, Carey played a match-winning knock of 98 not out against New Zealand, earning him Player of the Match. He also achieved his highest Test score as a wicketkeeper in Asia (156) in Sri Lanka.
• Sam Konstas: A promising young talent (19 years old), Konstas was brought into the squad for the West Indies Tests and was slated to open with Usman Khawaja in that series. While he missed out on the WTC Final XI, captain Cummins believes he has a “strong future ahead.” He was also named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year.
• Josh Inglis: Included in the squad for the West Indies Tests to replace the injured Steve Smith. He scored a century on his Test debut in Galle and is comfortable batting anywhere in the top order (likely 3, 4, or 5).
• Scott Boland: A fast bowler who took 10 wickets in Sydney during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. He was “unfortunate to miss out” on the WTC Final XI, with Cummins emphasizing future opportunities for him.
• Beau Webster: Retained his spot in the WTC Final XI and can provide bowling support with medium pace and spin. He was named the Men’s Domestic Player of the Year.
• Sean Abbott: Added to the Test squad for the West Indies tour following Brendan Doggett’s injury. He rejoined the Test squad for the first time since the Sri Lanka series earlier in 2025.
• Ricky Ponting: Former Australia captain, who famously predicted Australia’s playing XI for the WTC Final.
• Trevor Hohns: Former Chairman of the National Selection Panel, who explained the selection process, emphasizing the balance between immediate needs and future development of players.
• Tim Paine: Former Australian captain, who will now coach the Australia A series in Darwin, believing there’s “plenty of young talent” for Test selection.

FAQs

Recent Series & Tours

Player Achievements & Records

Team Leadership & Coaching Staff