Which Aussie players are on track for rematch Down Under

This essay is based on Charles Dickens classic fable, A Christmas Carol.

You know, the one about the old bloke who over Christmas looked at his life in the past, present and future. Scrooge sounds a bit like some of our current Test players. Retirement? Bah. Humbug.

Here, Christmas past is the Ashes series in 2021/22. Christmas present is Ashes 2025/26 and Christmas future is 2029/30.

It might give us some indicators about who we might be celebrating the next time England come down to face us over 14 or 15 days of Test cricket.

To kick us off, just a reminder about Usman Khawaja. In 2021-22 he played his first Test after a two-year absence when he was recalled for the fourth match in Sydney. He then went to opener for Marcus Harris in the fifth Test at Hobart. In those two Tests he scored 255 runs at 85.

Travis Head: Age in next Ashes series: 36

Highest run scorer in both series. This time he scored 629 runs at 62.9 with three centuries. Dave Warner played the TravBall opener role in 2021-22. Warner scored 273 runs at 34.12 with no centuries.

In 21/22 Trav scored 357 at 59.5 with two centuries. In fairness, he only played four Tests in 21/22 as he missed Boxing Day with Covid. Nic Maddinson, Mitchell Marsh (BisonBall) and Josh Inglis were brought in as cover.

By 2029-30, will his eyes and reflexes still produce like they have the last two series? Could anyone confidently say yes?

Jake Weatherald: Age in next Ashes series: 35

It’d take a brave person to back the Weatherman to be Test opener this time in four years. In this low scoring series, he scored 201 runs at 22.33.

Four years ago it was Harris, who will be 37 in four years. In four Tests in 2021-22 Harris scored 179 runs at 29.83. He was dropped in the last Test for Travis Head and hasn’t played a Test since.

Marnus Labuschagne: Age in next home Ashes series: 35

In 2021-22 Marnus scored 335 runs at 41.87. Not bad, but that average was just one run higher than Harry Brook’s this series. In the 2025-26 series, Marnus scored 259 runs at 28.77. It’s his fourth straight series he’s failed to average 30 with the bat.

He faces a big problem if he can’t turn his form around and is dropped. He was recalled after scoring four centuries in five innings, exactly what the selectors wanted.

If he gets dropped again, then what? What if he scores five centuries in six innings? Or six in seven? How can selectors have faith in the runs he scores at state level?

Steve Smith: Age in next Ashes series: 40

Sixth highest run scorer in 2022 with 244 at 30.5 with a highest score of 93. This time he made 286 runs from four Tests at 57.2 with one century. Also had the added responsibility of captaining in four Tests but not lifting the trophy. You lose one Test as captain …

Four years ago, there were questions as to whether his time as a Test player were ending. By 2029-30, he will be 40 and as great as he has been, his output isn’t what it was at his extraordinary peak.

Josh Inglis: Age in next Ashes series: 34

Called in for Usman at the Gabba and retained when Steve Smith was ruled out at Adelaide. Inglis managed 65 runs in two Tests at 21.66. In 2021-22, it was Travis Head (see above) who batted five, except in the fourth Test.

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Inglis might be thinking he’s a chance of being chosen as a specialist batsman or the back-up wicketkeeper. Pretty good thinking, actually. But given Carey’s age and the number of Tests scheduled in 2027, it might be better if he puts the gloves on full-time.

Alex Carey: Age in next Ashes series: 38

Fourth highest run scorer this series with 323 at 46.14, along with taking 27 catches and one stumping. In his debut series in 21/22 Carey scored 183 runs at 20.23. He also took 23 catches and no stumpings, despite the fact Jonny Bairstow played the last two Tests.

If he plays one more home Ashes series, it may be as captain. In this scenario it may also mean he has to play as a specialist batter.

Cameron Green: Age in next Ashes series: 30

Kinda hard to imagine Cameron Green being 30. In 2021-22, he scored 228 runs at 32.57. He also took 13 wickets at 15.76 (take that, BoLo). This series he scored 171 runs at 24.42 and took four wickets at 70.75.

There is no doubt Green has immense talent. There’s also no doubt whenever he plays state cricket he piles on runs. And he must be a smokey to be Test captain in the future.

But the numbers he produced this series aren’t good enough for a Test cricketer. He bowled fewer overs this series (62 compared to 81 in 2021-22), quite possibly because he couldn’t sustain pressure. He also threw away his wicket when he was well set more than once. He will know he needs to improve on what he produced in this series if he wants to be there in four years.

Beau Webster: Age at the next home series: 36

Obviously didn’t play in 2021–22 and he’s in his prime now. But he was also left out four of the five Tests. Still, he’s producing at Test level and provides a lot of flexibility. But again, it’s hard to see him playing at home in 29/30.

Scott Boland: Age at next home series: 40

The best thing about BoLo is he’s going to overtake all those annoying “records” that George Lohmann set back in the 1600s. BoLo in 21/22: three Tests, 18 wickets at 9.55. BoLo in 25/26: five Tests, 20 wickets at 24.95. In 19 Tests overall he’s taken 82 wickets at 18.58.

We all love BoLo. But it’s unlikely we’ll see him bowl again in a home Ashes series when he’s 40. Unless it’s as a full-time nightwatcher.

Michael Neser: Age at next home series: 39

I’m actually going to compare Michael Gertges Neser’s 2025–26 stats to another big Queenslander: Ryan Harris in 2013-14. They kinda remind me of each other. We all know how good Harris was, and Neser’s numbers are right up there with him.

In 25-26, Michael Gertges took 15 wickets in three Tests at 19.93. In 2013-14, Harris took 22 wickets in five Tests at 19.31. With batting, Harris’ 55* took his average to 23.4; Michael Gertges 18.75.

He probably won’t play the next home Ashes. I’d just like to see him finish up with 27 Tests like Harris and another notable quick, Bruce Reid.

As for the big four/cartel: by 2029-30, Mitchell Starc will be 40, Josh Hazlewood 39 and Pat Cummins 36. Lyon will be 42 and said he wants to win an away Ashes, Border/Gavaskar Trophy and play in another WTC Final. Those are all in 2027. Can we rule Hazlewood out now? Cummins and Starc would both be very unlikely.

Australia have beaten England at home again. But the reality is the majority of this team won’t be playing in four years.

Head’s style may see him dropped if he has another run of failures. If Marnus is dropped again, Shield runs are no indicator that he’s ready to return to the Test team. Not many Test keepers play till 38. And Aussie fans are split on the future of Green.

Andrew McDonald has said they don’t look more than 12 months ahead in terms of planning. But they should. Somewhere here is the next Test captain. Cummins will be 36 in 2029 and may still be playing. But that’s no guarantee he will still be captain. And surely there’s no point appointing a player in their mid-30s and may only be in the job 12-18 months.

So maybe Carey is the right option as skipper? It wouldn’t be a long-term option, but he has (pardon the pun) runs on the board.

But if that’s the thinking, it’s an awful lot to be skipper and keeping wicket at the age of 38. In the next 18 months, he could hand the gloves over and become a full-time batsman. It’s not like he struggles with the bat.

Will Pucovski aside, the lack of players who have jumped out at Shield level makes it more difficult to bring in players who immediately flourish in the Test arena.

If Cummins, Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood are all planning on going to England in 2027, then the next gen of bowlers needs to be younger to help with rejuvenation. Unfortunately, we can’t keep going back to the wishing well that is Neser–Boland. By the end of this decade they may well be retired.

Then there are the older fringe Test players. Brendan Doggett (35 in 2029–30), Kurtis Patterson and Mitchell Swepson (36 in 2029-30), Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Hilton Cartwright (37 in 2029-30), Sean Abbott and Peter Handscomb (38 in 2029-30) among others.

Emergencies aside, their time might very well have passed by. Ask the Windies from the early 1990s just how painful the transition is.

Cooper Connolly (22), Todd Murphy (25), Corey Roccocchiolli (28), Tim Ward (25), Fergus O’Neill (25), Jack Clayton (26), Nathan McSweeney (26), Xavier Bartlett (27), Lance Morris (27), Matthew Kuhnemann (29), Jhye Richardson (29), Matt Renshaw (29) and others all represent the future.

They need to be taken on tours and given Test opportunities to show their worth ahead of players who won’t be there in four more years. And if push comes to shove, Australia might just have to put more faith in a younger, less proven player.

There’s also the ODI team where players can get exposed to the pressures of international cricket. And not just swapping the entire team out after each game. Put players in, give them a few games and see how they perform.

This point has been repeated ad nauseum by many on The Roar. But a pretty quick way to start the transition is to start the transition.

Clayton/Tim Ward to open with Head against Bangladesh, Renshaw/McSweeney at three and McSweeney/Campbell Kellaway at five. Richardson as one of the three quicks. Yes, there’s questions about Richardson’s fitness. But there will be even when he gets some decent time performing in the Test team.

Is it our best XI? Is it ever? We always debate that. But straight away you have five players under 30 (including Green) and things aren’t looking so glum.

The others the selectors are looking at then get chosen in the ODI squad.

Not all of them. But ironically, some may then transition to the Test team.