The Ashes: Australia recall Marnus Labuschagne and include Jake Weatherald in squad for first Test in Perth

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EchoStorm

Australia has recalled opening batsman Marnus Labuschagne for the first Ashes Test in Perth and included Jake Weatherald in the squad as a potential opener.

The decision comes after Sam Konstas was dropped, scoring just 50 runs in six innings during the West Indies tour. The Australia selectors are looking for a new opening partner for Usman Khawaja, with Weatherald appearing set to take on this role alongside Labuschagne, who could return to the side after being dropped following the World Test Championship final at Lord's.

Steve Smith will captain the side in Pat Cummins' absence, and Scott Boland is likely to keep his place in a three-man seam attack alongside Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Cameron Green may be unable to bowl in the first Test due to fitness concerns, potentially giving Beau Webster a spot at six instead of the debutant Weatherald.

Former England captain Michael Atherton believes that Australia's team is "strong and experienced" but notes that there are still big decisions to make ahead of the series opener. He suggests that England will look to exploit any uncertainty around the opening partnership, having lost David Warner as an opening partner due to retirement.

The Australia squad for the first Ashes Test includes Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, and Beau Webster.
 
I think the Aussies need to get their act together with this Ashes squad 🤔. Dropping Sam Konstas just to include Jake Weatherald feels like a bit of a punt, don't you think? And what's up with Cameron Green possibly missing out on bowling duties due to fitness concerns? I hope he can shake off the injury bug and get back to his usual self 🏆. On the other hand, I love that Steve Smith is taking over as captain - he's one of the most consistent batsmen in the game right now ⚡️. Let's see how this squad shapes up against England - it's gonna be a real battle!
 
I'm so excited for the Ashes series 🏏👏! I think Australia's squad looks pretty solid 💪, but I've got to say, I'm a bit curious about this new opening partnership between Labuschagne and Weatherald 🤔💬. We all know how important it is for those Aussie openers to get going quickly ⏱️, so fingers crossed they can pull off a strong start 🌟.

And, oh man, I love the fact that Steve Smith's back as captain 👊! He's always been such an awesome leader 🤝. But, I do hope Cameron Green is okay 🤒, we don't want him going down with an injury 😞.

This series is gonna be 🔥👀, can't wait to see how it all plays out 🎟️!
 
🤩 I think Australia is making a smart move by bringing back Labuschagne, he's one of the best batsmen in the world and it's always good to have your top players back in the lineup! 🙌 And yeah, Weatherald could be a great opening partner for him, they've played together before and it seems like a solid partnership. 🤝 It's also interesting that they're considering Webster at six instead of Weatherald if Green can't bowl, but I think Weatherald has a good chance to hold onto his spot in the side. 😊 The Ashes are going to be intense! 🔥
 
idk why they dropped sam konstas already he was doing alright 🤔💔 labuschagne's form wasnt that bad either but i guess its all about having options now... weatherald seems like a decent opener though let's see how the two of them go together 🤞⚾️ maybe the Aussies can finally get their opening partnership sorted
 
🤔 The decision to recall Marnus Labuschagne and include Jake Weatherald in the squad for the first Ashes Test is an interesting one 🤓. I think it's a pragmatic move by the selectors, given Sam Konstas' underwhelming performance during the West Indies tour 😐. With Usman Khawaja looking to establish a new opening partnership, Weatherald's experience as an opener could be a valuable asset 🔁.

It'll be fascinating to see how this new partnership unfolds 🎯, and whether they can provide the stability that England's team might look to exploit during the series 🔄. I'm also intrigued by Cameron Green's fitness concerns – it'll be interesting to see if Beau Webster gets his debut 💪. Overall, a solid squad selection 👍.
 
OMG, like I know Australia's squad has been a bit of a mess since the World Test Championship 🤯, but I'm kinda stoked they've gone for Jake Weatherald as a potential opener! He's got some serious skills and I think he could be the key to solving their opening partnership issues 👍. Labuschagne is still one of my faves btw 💚, but it's all about finding that perfect combo. And can we talk about Steve Smith leading the team? 🙌 He's such a great captain and I'm so hyped for him to take on this role 😎. The Ashes series is gonna be EPIC 🔥!
 
I think the decision to recall Marnus Labuschagne is a good move! He's been having an off series with Sam Konstas in the lineup, so bringing him back will definitely shake things up for England. I'm intrigued by the potential opening partnership between Jake Weatherald and Labuschagne - it could be interesting to see how they work together.

I'm also curious to see how Cameron Green's fitness affects his bowling, maybe Beau Webster can step in as a backup? And with Steve Smith at the helm, I think Australia's got a solid team looking at least. The question is though, will England really take advantage of any uncertainty around Australia's opening partnership? We'll have to wait and see how that plays out! 🤔🏏
 
It's crazy how the Ashes are turning out to be a test of not just cricket skills but also adaptability & leadership 🤔. I think this decision to drop Sam Konstas shows that even experienced players can fall out of favour if they're not performing well. It's like life - you've got to prove yourself every time and show that you still have what it takes ⏰.

I'm curious to see how Jake Weatherald does as a potential opener - he's been given a chance, but the pressure is on! Remember, opportunities come with risks, but that's where growth happens 🌱.
 
idk why aus selectors r so indecisive 🤷‍♂️ labuschagne gets dropped after world champ final yet goes back in 4th test? what's the point of having a draft squad lol 🔴👀 i mean weatherald is not bad, but he's not labuschagne either... maybe we should see weatherald play with khawaja and see how that goes before making any big moves 🤔
 
Wow, this Ashes series is gonna be lit! 🌟 Australia's squad looks pretty solid with some big names back in the mix, but I think they're being a bit cautious with their picks. Dropping Sam Konstas already shows they're looking for a change up front and now they're sticking with Labuschagne... interesting move. And what's with the health concerns for Cameron Green? Hopefully he's okay! 🤞 Jake Weatherald's inclusion is a nice pick-up though, I think he's gonna have some big innings for them this series. Can't wait to see how it all plays out! 😃
 
I was saying that the selectors have been playing with fire by dropping Sam Konstas and now they're changing their minds again with Jake Weatherald 🤔. I mean, what's next? Will they drop Labuschagne too if he doesn't get back to form? I'm not sure about this new opener thing... Can't they just stick with the same players who are doing well? It feels like they're trying to fix something that ain't broke 😒.
 
I just got the new iPhone 15 📱 and it's so cool! I mean, have you seen those new cameras on the latest model? I was watching that cricket video with Marnus Labuschagne and thought, wow, he looks super fit 🏋️‍♂️. But, I don't get why they had to drop Sam Konstas... like, what's going on with his form or something? 🤔 Anyway, back to the Ashes - I'm not really following cricket, but it seems like Australia is all set for the series opener. I wonder if Jake Weatherald will be able to handle opening duties alongside Marnus Labuschagne... my friend's cousin plays cricket and he says it's super hard to keep up with the pressure 😅.
 
Wow 🤯! Australia's squad for the first Ashes Test is looking super competitive with some big names in it. I'm interested 💡 to see how Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne work together as opening batsmen, especially after Sam Konstas was dropped. It's gonna be a tough series opener for England, but they've got a good chance of bouncing back if they can exploit any uncertainty around the Aussie openers 🤔
 
Man, the Ashes are back! 🏏💥 I'm loving the fact that Australia is shaking things up with the squad selection. Jake Weatherald's inclusion as a potential opener alongside Marnus Labuschagne is super exciting – I've been following him for his impressive form in the Big Bash, and it'll be awesome to see him put that on the international stage.

But, you know, part of me wishes Australia was still with David Warner at the top. 🤔 He's a legend, man! His partnership with Steve Smith is one of the best in Test cricket history, and losing him is like losing a piece of their team's identity. Still, I get why they'd want to try out Weatherald – he's got potential, for sure!

And, oh man, this series is gonna be intense. England's been looking strong lately, but Australia's still got that fire in their belly. 🌋 Bring it on! ⚡️
 
omg i'm so stoked for the ashes series 🤩! Australia is looking super strong with that squad and i think labuschagne and weatherald's opening partnership is gonna be 🔥! we all know how important having a solid openers can make or break a team, and this combo seems like it's gonna do the trick 👌. plus, steve smith as captain is a no-brainer 🙌... fingers crossed for a good series 😄
 
omg did u hear australia recalled labuschagne 🤩 like he's the real deal now! they gotta be feeling confident with him back in the squad alongside weatherald 💪 i'm all for it tho, labuschagne's been on fire lately & u can't go wrong w/ experience, esp when it comes to the ashes. what do u think about this move tho? 👀
 
I'm a bit torn about this decision. On one hand, I think it's good that the selectors are shaking things up to find the perfect combination for the opening partnership. With Sam Konstas struggling to make an impact, it makes sense to try out Jake Weatherald alongside Labuschagne. Plus, having Steve Smith as captain will help keep the team focused and lead from the front. 🤔 However, I do wonder how Cameron Green's fitness concerns might affect their chances in this series opener... maybe Beau Webster could be a dark horse? 😉
 
Omg I'm so hyped for the Ashes series!!! 😆 Australia's squad looks super strong with all those experienced players! I think Jake Weatherald is a great pick as an opener, he's got potential to do some damage alongside Labuschagne 🤞 Let's see how they go against England, it's gonna be a tough one but I've got faith in the Aussie team 💪 Can't wait for the series to kick off! 🎾
 
🐱😕 I'm kinda surprised to see Marnus Labuschagne back in the squad after getting dropped, but at the same time I get why they needed a new opening partner for Usman Khawaja... Jake Weatherald seems like a good fit tho 🤔? Can't wait to see how he does alongside Labuschagne! 🎾 Is Cameron Green's fitness worries gonna affect him playing in the first Test? Shouldn't England be worried more about their own opener situation with Warner gone 🙄?
 
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