Win Projections to be updated soon
Brisbane, 3 December 2025:
Australia delayed naming their lineup for the second Ashes Test, keeping alive the prospect of captain Pat Cummins making a surprise return after missing the series opener with a back injury.
Cummins, who has not played since July, bowled in the nets during the first Test in Perth and again in Sydney after Australia’s win. He trained in Brisbane on Tuesday, prompting selectors to keep the door open for his inclusion in Thursday’s day-night Test at the Gabba.
Steve Smith, who captained in Perth, said at his pre-match news conference that Australia would finalise their XI later Wednesday. Cummins later met with Smith, head coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey on the Gabba square, where McDonald was seen embracing the fast bowler. Australia eventually confirmed they would not name their side until the toss.
“A whole heap of things are on the table,” Smith said. “We’ll wait and see what the wicket looks like later and determine a playing XI from there. He looks pretty good to me. He’s bowled in the nets, he’s ramping up and he knows his body well.”
If selected, Cummins could replace debutant Brendan Doggett or displace Nathan Lyon should Australia opt to go without a specialist spinner.
England captain Ben Stokes said his side would simply “wait and see” what Australia decides. “Pat’s awesome,” Stokes said. “He’s been great as a player and a captain. Whatever XI they go with, we’ll be going in looking to win.”
Australia will make at least one change after opener Usman Khawaja was ruled out with back spasms. Leeds-born batter Josh Inglis is expected to come in, having worked with the slip cordon at training. Travis Head, who scored a match-winning century in Perth while filling in for Khawaja, will stay at the top of the order.
Inglis, who emigrated to Australia at 14, scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year and added another hundred for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions during the first Test. “He’s an attacking batsman,” Smith said. “He’s in good form and plays fast bowling nicely.”
Should Cummins return, Australia would regain one of world cricket’s premier fast bowlers and one of its most effective performers in day-night Tests. Only Mitchell Starc has taken more wickets under lights; Cummins’ pink-ball average, strike rate and economy rate are all superior to his red-ball numbers. His batting at No. 8 would also lengthen an Australia lineup that had a long tail in Perth.
England, who have not won a Test in Australia in nearly 15 years and have not won in Brisbane since 1986, confirmed their XI on Tuesday. Spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks will play his first Test in three years, replacing injured fast bowler Mark Wood.
With conditions expected to offer some help to spin, England selected Jacks ahead of frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir due to his batting value at No. 8. “There was a tactical element to it,” Stokes said. “Jacksy’s ability with the bat is useful. If it ever comes down to picking our best spinner, selection would go the other way.”
