Bailey Defends Age Of Australia Ashes Squad

Australia main selector George Bailey says nan squad for nan first Ashes Test against England deserves "respect" pursuing disapproval of nan property of players.

Only 1 subordinate nether 30 - 26-year-old all-rounder Cameron Green - was named successful a 15-man squad connected Wednesday for nan bid opener successful Perth starting connected 21 November.

Former skipper Steve Waugh criticised nan selection, saying Bailey did not person nan "appetite" to make reliable calls to regenerate nan side.

"We're alert of nan property floor plan of nan team," said Bailey.

"I'm willing erstwhile group person that position arsenic to who they would for illustration america to leave. Is that Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc out? Is that conscionable because of their age?

"You've sewage to springiness owed respect that nan guys are performing very good and they person nan correct to beryllium selected."

Opener Sam Konstas was nan notable absentee, pinch Marnus Labuschagne recalled and Jake Weatherald called up for nan first time. Both batters are 31.

It is nan 2nd clip successful 12 months that 20-year-old Konstas has been dropped.

"I consciousness for Sammy. At nan moment, if he farts it's a headline," said Bailey.

"We really for illustration him. We for illustration nan skillset location and we're assured that complete nan agelong tally it will proceed to build out."

As expected, skipper and gait bowler Pat Cummins was near retired arsenic he recovers from a backmost injury.

Head coach Andrew McDonald said successful October he is "really optimistic" that Cummins, 32, will beryllium disposable for nan 2nd Test successful Brisbane starting connected 4 December.

Starc, 35, Josh Hazlewood, 34, and Scott Boland, 36, are expected to shape nan gait attack, while 33-year-old Sean Abbott and 31-year-old Brendan Doggett - some are whom are uncapped - person been included successful nan squad.

Lyon, 37, is nan only master spinner.

Steve Smith, who was stripped of nan captaincy successful 2018 pursuing nan ball-tampering scandal, will skipper nan broadside successful Cummins' absence.

Australia are nan holders of nan Ashes.

England person won only 1 of their past 10 bid successful Australia - and nary since 2010-11.

The five-Test bid is group to extremity connected 8 January.

Australia squad for first Test: Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

England's Ashes squad: Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.