Australia will go into the second Ashes Test in Brisbane with the same squad. Pat Cummins will not play. The selectors want to take a careful approach with their captain.
Cummins is recovering from a back stress injury. Australia did not rush him. He missed the first Test in Perth. He will now miss the Gabba Test as well.
He increased his workload in the last few days. He bowled in Perth. He bowled again at Cricket NSW earlier in the week. On Friday he bowled for an hour to Steve Smith with a pink ball. He looked fit. He bowled at full speed. But the Brisbane Test comes too early for him.
Cummins will travel with the team to Brisbane. He will continue his work. The aim is to return in the Adelaide Test on 17 December.
Josh Hazlewood also trained in Sydney. He is not ready yet. He is still recovering from a hamstring injury. He will also miss the second Test.
Brendan Doggett keeps his spot after his debut in Perth. Usman Khawaja stays in the squad as well. He had back spasms in the first Test. He batted only once and made two runs. His place as an opener remains a question.
Travis Head is an option at the top. He opened in the second innings in Perth when Khawaja could not. His quick 123 crushed England in the first Test.
Jake Weatherald also made his debut in Perth. He got a duck in the first innings. But he played with more confidence in the second innings. He is likely to keep his place.
If Head opens instead of Khawaja, Beau Webster may return to the playing XI.
Australia squad: Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
