AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS TRUSTED ACCURATE IMPARTIAL DONATE AAP NEEDS YOU NEWS FACTCHECK NEWSROOM PHOTOS ABOUT CONTACT Vice-captain Steve Smith looms as Australia's most important player to retain the Ashes. Image by AP PHOTO CRICKET Penpix of Australia’s Ashes squad AAP December 3, 2021 AUSTRALIA’S 15-MAN ASHES SQUAD: DAVID WARNER Age: 35 Tests: 86, Ashes Tests: 23 Playing role: Left-handed batter Test batting average: 48.09, Ashes batting average: 39.39 Fresh from player-of-the-tournament honours at the Twenty20 World Cup. Local conditions should help his bid to improve on a horror 2019 Ashes, when routinely tormented by Stuart Broad. MARCUS HARRIS Age: 29 Tests: 10, Ashes Tests: 3 Playing role: Left-handed batter Test batting average: 23.77, Ashes batting average: 9.66 The incumbent Test opener has a golden chance to nail down his spot in the XI, especially with Will Pucovski set to miss the series. MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE Age: 27 Tests: 18, Ashes Tests: 4 Playing role: Right-handed batter Test batting average: 60.8, Ashes batting average: 50.42 The man occupying fourth spot on the ICC’s Test batting rankings will seek to extend a remarkably rapid rise since the 2019 Ashes, when he entered the fray as a concussion substitute at Lord’s and helped salvage a draw. STEVE SMITH Age: 32 Tests: 77, Ashes Tests: 27 Playing role: Right-handed batter Test batting average: 61.8, Ashes batting average: 65.11 Arguably the most important player in Australia’s bid to retain the urn. Scored a stack of runs during the corresponding series in 2015, 2017-18 and 2019. USMAN KHAWAJA Age: 34 Tests: 44, Ashes Tests: 12 Playing role: Left-handed batter Test batting average: 40.66, Ashes batting average: 29.85 Locked in a selection showdown with Travis Head over the No.5 spot in the batting order. Hasn’t played international cricket since being axed during the 2019 Ashes. TRAVIS HEAD Age: 27 Tests: 19, Ashes Tests: 4 Playing role: Left-handed batter Test batting average: 39.75, Ashes batting average: 27.28 Posted a century in his final Sheffield Shield match before linking up with the Test squad in Brisbane. Like Khawaja, will be keen to improve on his output in the 2019 Ashes. CAMERON GREEN Age: 22 Tests: 4, Ashes Test: 0 Playing role: Allrounder (right-handed batter, right-arm fast-medium) Test batting average: 33.71, Ashes batting average: N/A Test bowling average: N/A, Ashes bowling average: N/A The burden of expectation on the young gun will likely grow this summer, especially given Ben Stokes is part of the opposing XI. Still hunting his first Test wicket. ALEX CAREY Age: 30 Tests: 0, Ashes Tests: 0 Playing role: Right-handed wicketkeeper-batter Test batting average: N/A, Ashes batting average: N/A The first Australian gloveman to make his Test debut at home since Adam Gilchrist. Quickly became a leader in Australia’s ODI side after debuting in 2018. PAT CUMMINS (capt) Age: 28 Tests: 34, Ashes Tests: 10 Playing role: Right-arm fast Test bowling average: 21.59, Ashes bowling average: 21.84 Once renowned as an injury-prone paceman of great potential but is now preparing to become the first Australian male bowler to lead the side since Richie Benaud. Intriguing to see how he juggles the added workload. MITCHELL STARC Age: 31 Tests: 61, Ashes Tests: 13 Playing role: Left-arm fast Test bowling average: 27.57, Ashes bowling average: 28.18 Shane Warne has launched another campaign to axe the fast bowler, who failed to produce his best at the T20 World Cup. Selectors will likely be more patient, although Jhye Richardson’s return to fitness creates obvious pressure. NATHAN LYON Age: 34 Tests: 100, Ashes Tests: 23 Playing role: Right-arm offbreak Test bowling average: 32.12, Ashes bowling average: 30.52 The most experienced member of the XI. Australia’s most prolific finger spinner needs just one more scalp to celebrate his 400th Test wicket. JOSH HAZLEWOOD Age: 30 Tests: 55, Ashes Tests: 13 Playing role: Right-arm fast-medium Test bowling average: 25.65, Ashes bowling average: 24.43 The metronomic right-armer recently won the T20 World Cup and IPL, adding another string to his bow. However, like Cummins and Starc, he is yet to play a red-ball match this summer. JHYE RICHARDSON Age: 25 Tests: 2, Ashes Tests: 0 Playing role: Right-arm fast Test bowling average: 20.5, Ashes bowling average: N/A Demanded selection in the squad with a dominant Shield display at the Gabba. Debuted in 2019 then endured two and a half years of injury hell after landing awkwardly on his shoulder in a fielding mishap. MICHAEL NESER Age: 31 Tests: 0, Ashes Tests: 0 Playing role: Right-arm medium-fast Test bowling average: N/A, Ashes bowling average: N/A Perennial 12th man throughout recent years. Likely to be on drinks duty for the bulk of this summer, but don’t discount his hopes of a debut if Australia’s star quicks have a big workload. MITCHELL SWEPSON Age: 28 Tests: 0, Ashes Tests: 0 Playing role: Legbreak Test bowling average: N/A, Ashes bowling average: N/A A raging turner at the SCG or injury to Lyon appears his most likely hope of a baggy green this summer. 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