The Ashes 2025: Australia captain Pat Cummins out of second Test in Brisbane

Without Cummins and Hazlewood, Australia might have fielded an unchanged attack for the pink-ball Test.

Perth left-armer Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets and was named player of the match. He was joined by fellow seamers Scott Boland and debutant Brendan Doggett, as well as all-rounder Cameron Green and off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon struggled in Perth as England fast bowler Mark Wood batted. If Australia decide to omit their front-line spinner from Brisbane, he will be replaced by either seamer Michael Neser or all-rounder Beau Webster.

Khawaja’s place is under review as he was unfit to open the batting in both innings in Perth.

In the second innings, Travis Head moved up from fifth and hit one of the best Ashes hundreds of all time, leading Australia to victory.

Khawaja’s exclusion at home will leave the door open for Josh Inglis, who earned a hundred in the Cricket Australia XI against the England Lions on Monday.

Australia have not lost an Ashes Test in Brisbane since 1986. They have lost just one of their previous 14 pink-ball Tests and have beaten England in all three day nights in the Ashes.

England have opted not to send any of their first Test XIs to a two-day pink-ball match between the England Lions and the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, which begins on Saturday.

The tourists held two extra training sessions ahead of the second Test.

They will return to training at Allan Border Field on Saturday, when captain Ben Stokes will address the media.