Overview
- Australia named its first Ashes Test squad with Sam Konstas omitted and Jake Weatherald included after strong domestic form.
- Chief selector George Bailey, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon publicly backed Konstas’ long‑term prospects, urging a return to Sheffield Shield cricket.
- Konstas has 103 runs from nine Test innings since his debut and is averaging 20.33 in this season’s Shield.
- Weatherald, who turned 31 this week, was rewarded after finishing last Shield season as the leading run‑scorer.
- Uncapped quicks Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott were selected for their complementary skill sets, with Michael Neser left out of the squad.