Australia Ashes Squad 2023: Breakdown of all 16 players

The Australia squad for Ashes 2023 are the favorites to win the encounter, but the devil’s in the details, so here’s our analysis of each player.

It’s not uncommon for a team to dominate a sport — the Spanish football team of 2008-2014 comes immediately to mind — but the longevity with which Australia has had a chokehold on the cricket scene is truly something remarkable. The Aussies have won world championships in every single format now, have three more ODI World Cups than any other side, and even have a couple of ICC Champions Trophies for good measure. 

Despite a bit of a performance lull in the latter part of the 2010s, the men from Down Under have bounced back with their recent success and are marginally ahead of England in the ICC Test Rankings, just behind India in top spot. With such a strong Australia Ashes squad 2023, they are the favorites to win the series despite England’s form and the fact that the Poms are hosting. 

That hardly tells the whole story, though, so here’s a more in-depth look at the AUS Ashes squad as well as a prediction about their playing 11 for the first Test in Birmingham on June 16.

Australia Squad for Ashes 2023

Here are the 17 players that have made the cut for the Australia Ashes squad 2023 to represent Australia in the Ashes.

Pat Cummins (c)

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 30y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast
• Test Bowling Average: 21.74
• Wickets Taken: 221

Despite making a decent Test debut back in 2011, Cummins didn’t play another Test till six years later. However, his return cemented his status as one of Australia’s finest, and what he lacks in number of wickets taken, he more than makes up for in his incredible Test bowling average. He is a crucial cog in Australia's squad for the Ashes 2023.

Steven Smith (vc)

• Playing Role: Middle order Batter
• Age: 34y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Legbreak Googly
• Test Batting Average: 60.04
• Total Runs: 8947

The only current cricketer with a Test batting average over 60, Steven Smith has been a force of nature since his debut and shows no signs of slowing down at 34. If anyone had any doubts about his continued prowess over the game, his performance in the World Test Championship final should lay them to rest and prove why he is in the AUS Ashes squad.

Scott Boland 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 34y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Bowling Average: 14.57
• Wickets Taken: 33

It’s not entirely uncommon for Australian cricketers to debut in Tests late in their years after successful stints in the Sheffield Shield, and Scott Boland is one such player. He may have only eight Tests under his belt before making the Australia Ashes squad 2023, but that bowling average of 14.57 is ridiculous, and one to be feared.

Alex Carey

• Playing Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
• Age: 31y
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Test Batting Average: 34.91
• Total Runs: 803

The veteran batter has had his ups and downs, and he’s no Adam Gilchrist as a wicket-keeper batsman, but he has been a steady inclusion in the Aussie squad, especially since the exit of Tim Payne. Carey may not have much experience in white kits, but he still packs a punch.

Cameron Green 

• Playing Role: Batting Allrounder
• Age: 24y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Batting Average: 36.00
• Total Runs: 972
• Test Bowling Average: 33.84
• Wickets Taken: 25

A decent all-rounder by every metric, Cameron Green is a rising young cricketer with plenty of oomph to his game. That being said, his performances in the last Ashes were far from exceptional, so he has quite a lot to prove.

Marcus Harris 

• Playing Role: Opening Batter
• Age: 30y 
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Batting Average: 25.29
• Total Runs: 607

One of the weakest cogs in the Aussie machine, Marcus Harris’ inclusion in the Australian Test team often leaves pundits confused. He has the average of a lower order batter, and at 30, it doesn’t look like his peak is in front of him. Nevertheless, he may still make the team due to its lack of openers.

Josh Hazlewood 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 32y 
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Bowling Average: 25.83
• Wickets Taken: 222

One of the deadliest bowlers in the world right now, Josh Hazlewood combines with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins to create one of the most formidable pace batteries in the world. Given the kind of green pitches England is known to have, he will be one of Australia’s key players.

Travis Head 

• Playing Role: Middle order Batter
• Age: 29y 
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak
• Test Batting Average: 47.07
• Total Runs: 2542

If England has Bazball, Australia has Headball. Travis Head is one of the most aggressive Test batters in the world, and frequently scores at near or over a run a ball even in the usually defensive format. 

Josh Inglis 

• Playing Role: Wicketkeeper Batter
• Age: 28y
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Test Batting Average: 13.66
• Total Runs: 41

His stats may look utterly miserable, but Inglis has impressed in white-ball formats and may yet shine in the 5-day game. The fact that he is an excellent wicket-keeper also adds value to his inclusion.

Tomorrow. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/SbClFnuVqI

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) June 14, 2023

Usman Khawaja 

• Playing Role: Top order Batter
• Age: 36y 
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Batting Average: 46.95
• Total Runs: 4508

A player who had to wait for years to receive a callback from the Baggy Greens, Usman Khawaja returned with a bang and hasn’t stopped looking impressive since. A highly technical batter, Khawaja is the opening anchor that was direly needed in the Australia squad for Ashes 2023.

Marnus Labuschagne 

• Playing Role: Batting Allrounder
• Age: 28y
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Test Batting Average: 56.73
• Total Runs: 3461
• Test Bowling Average: 56.53
• Wickets Taken: 13

One of the most exciting and eccentric Test batters in the world, Labuschagne may say “No run!” after every other dot ball, but he knows how to score them aplenty. Apart from his commendable batting exploits, he is also a decent part-time leg-spinner.

Nathan Lyon 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 35y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak
• Test Bowling Average: 31.03
• Wickets Taken: 487

A wily old customer who’s instantly recognizable from his bald head and sunglasses, Nathan Lyon has been Australia’s premier spinner since the great Shane Warne left the building. Usually paired with fellow baldie Ashton Agar, Lyon will likely be Australia’s primary spinner for this series.

Mitchell Marsh 

• Playing Role: Allrounder
• Age: 31y 
• Batting Style: Right hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Fast medium
• Test Batting Average: 25.20
• Total Runs: 1260
• Test Bowling Average: 38.64
• Wickets Taken: 42

A fantastic white-ball player, Mitchell Marsh isn’t as prolific in Tests, but can still rev up his engines when required. The Perth native knows the game well, and it’s imperative that England don’t underestimate a Marsh given the family’s cricketing pedigree. 

Todd Murphy 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 22y 
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak
• Test Bowling Average: 25.21
• Wickets Taken: 14

A youngster with magic fingers, Todd Murphy may not take precedence over Nathan Lyon, but if push comes to shove he could turn out to be a useful addition to the squad. That being said, the fact that Australia went with two off-spinners in the AUS Ashes squad is a bit strange.

Matt Renshaw 

• Playing Role: Batter
• Age: 27y 
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Right arm Offbreak
• Test Batting Average: 29.31
• Total Runs: 645

Another player who has made it into the squad by way of decent performances in the Sheffield Shield, Renshaw is yet to really establish himself in the lineup. He will likely remain a backup unless Australia either lose players to injury or seal the series with games to spare.

Mitchell Starc 

• Playing Role: Bowler
• Age: 33y 
• Batting Style: Left hand bat
• Bowling Style: Left arm fast
• Test Bowling Average: 27.64
• Wickets Taken: 310

Once one of the best in the world, Mitchell Starc’s star has fallen somewhat with age, but he is still a force to be reckoned with. Able to move the ball significantly on the right pitch, he will be one of England’s biggest worries when they go on their usual offensive.

David Warner 

• Playing Role: Opening Batter
• Age: 36y 
• Batting Style: Left hand Bat
• Bowling Style: Legbreak
• Test Batting Average: 45.31
• Total Runs: 8202

He may have stated that this is his last appearance in white kits, but David Warner’s time with Cricket Australia is likely to continue after retirement as he is nigh-inextricably linked to the organization. Even England players likely want to see him go out with a bang as part of the Australian Ashes squad.

AUS Ashes squad: Predicted playing 11 for the Ashes 2023 first Test

• Usman Khawaja
• David Warner
• Travis Head
• Cameron Green
• Steven Smith
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Alex Carey
• Nathan Lyon
• Pat Cummins
• Mitchell Starc
• Josh Hazlewood

Can Australia Win the Ashes?

Australia are going into the series as the favorites to win it, and although experts agree that the squads are evenly matched, the Aussies have had the bookmakers’ edge in this contest for a long time now.