Ashes 2025-26: player-by-player guide to England and Australia squads

32 71 While technically not in the squad for the first Test while recovering from a back injury, Cummins remains captain in the full-time sense, and will still go to Perth with the coaching staff. Leadership aside, he recently passed 300 wickets while averaging 22.10: only Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall and Kagiso Rabada have taken more for less. Pace and movement create his ability to remove set batters. England will hope he stays sore. 36 119 View image in fullscreen Steve Smith can score runs for fun in Australia. England beware. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Etched into English minds for his run-hunger from 2015 to 2019, when his series tallies topped 500, then...