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Webster dropped as Ashes debutants confirmed for Australia
SEN • November 20th, 2025 2:36 pm
The wait is finally over with confirmation Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald will make their debuts for Australia in the first Ashes Test in Perth.
According to reports out of Perth, Beau Webster will sit out the opening clash with England while Marnus Labuschagne will bat at number 3.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith will address the media later this afternoon to confirm the team news.
After months of debate over who will partner Usman Khawaja as opener for Australia, 31-year-old Weatherald got the nod.
Weatherald was included in the 15-man squad off the back of his stellar form in the Sheffield Shield and in Paine’s opinion, the Tasmanian star is more than ready to rise to the occasion.
“Jake Weatherald, when you played against him, everyone's always thought, ‘Jesus, this guy's a good player’, and he just hasn't been able to capitalise on it until the last sort of 18 months," Tim Paine told SENQ Breakfast on Thursday morning.
“He’s grown into his own. He understands his game really well.
“He prepares really well and he's as ready as the likes of Brad Haddin and Mike Hussey - guys that came into first Tests at 30, 31.
“We're hoping that Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett are in a similar vein, but yeah, they're certainly ready to go.
“They're highly skilled. 'Weathers', I’ve had a bit of time with at the Adelaide Strikers. I can't wait to see him bat.
“He can be a little bit unpredictable, but in a really good way.
“If the pressure is on he won't go back into his shell, he'll come at them, so it's going to be exciting for people to watch him bat if he's the one they go with.”
