Australia 2027 Ashes squad: After Australia retained the Ashes at home against England, cricket great Ricky Ponting revealed his squad for the next clash, filled with proven match-winners and exciting young talent. This sent a clear message that Australia has enough firepower to dominate England in 2027.
Australia 2027 Ashes squad revealed: Ricky Ponting’s bold choice
Ricky Ponting has laid out a bold blueprint for the future as the former skipper has announced a 17-player Australia squad for the 2027 Ashes tour of England. Their team has been headlined by the selection of modern great Steve Smith and the continued leadership of Pat Cummins.
Pat Cummins has been made the captain after already winning major trophies for Australia. The fast bowler has played over 70 Tests, taken over 300 wickets, and has a strong Ashes record both at home and in England, and Ponting wants Cummins to lead the team once again in England.
Also read: Ricky Ponting delivers brutal reality check on Shubman Gill after T20 World Cup defeat
Alex Carey was given the responsibility of wicketkeeping. He has played 47 Tests, scoring over 2400 runs, and has become a reliable lower-order batsman with significant contributions in the Ashes in England and Australia, particularly during pressure chases and long sessions behind the stumps.
Dramatic Ashes selections for Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon
Ponting surprised many by selecting Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon for Australia’s Ashes tour of England in 2027 as both the icons are in the final stages of their careers. He has been a pillar of the Test team, and his numerical strength is a significant influence, yet his selection seemed a bit hasty.
Lyon played only a few matches in the current Ashes 2025-26, while Smith also missed one Test due to injuries, but he has firmly denied retirement talks, and his record in England is phenomenal, making Ponting’s decision clear.
Smith has 10613 runs in 122 Test matches, while Lyon has taken 567 wickets in 141 matches so far. However, the form and fitness of both Australian icons, given their ages, will be crucial to their Ashes chances.
Boland the Destroyer, Head the Enforcer, Green the Future
Scott Boland remains a specialist Ashes weapon, while Todd Murphy continues to be Australia’s spin future. Travis Head continues to be Australia’s attacking game-changer, and Ponting feels his fearless stroke play will again hurt England.
Also read: ECB plans to impose dirty county cricket ban on Australia stars to stop England’s Ashes dominance
Former Australian captain Cameron sees Green as a long-term pillar. The great batsman also backed Josh Inglis for the next Ashes. Campbell Kellaway is one of the surprise selections, as he has not yet made his Test debut, but he is being groomed for long-term success.
According to Ponting, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will remain key assets for the Australia team in the next high-profile Test series in England.
Ricky Ponting’s Australia squad for Ashes 2027:
Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Scott Boland, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Campbell Kellaway, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Hazlewood, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon, Beau Webster, Oliver Peak.
Ricky Ponting picks his Australia team for the next men’s Ashes series in 2027 pic.twitter.com/YDQEfnd4nw
– ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 4 January 2026

