‘Knife’s edge’: Inside Ashes selection race as Aussie legend takes swipe at Bailey — LIVE

National selector George Bailey will name Australia’s squad for the first Ashes Test against England at Perth Stadium on Wednesday, ending months of speculation.

Speaking to reporters on the Gold Coast, Bailey will reveal who opens the batting alongside Usman Khawaja and which fast bowler replaces wounded captain Pat Cummins.

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Bailey is scheduled to speak to reporters at 11am local time (12pm AEDT).

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Sam Konstas was Khawaja’s last partner at the top of the order, however has averaged only 20.33 from six innings this Sheffield Shield season after a disappointing West Indies tour to leave the door wide open for a fresh face.

Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald had been touted from a while back as a potential option, scoring three fifties from six knocks this summer. However, insiders believe the uncapped 31-year-old could be overlooked in order to allow both Cameron Green and Beau Webster to play in the same top six — a move that would ultimately see Marnus Labuschagne open with Khawaja.

Labuschagne, who was dropped for Australia’s recent tour of the West Indies, has set the domestic scene alight this spring, smashing an eye-watering five hundreds in eight innings across both four-day and one-day cricket.

It must be said that the right-hander hasn’t been opening for Queensland amid his purple patch, although evidently that isn’t seen as a major issue with selectors.

Labuschagne has only opened once for Australia, scoring 17 and 22 in their World Test Championship Final loss against South Africa in June.

Queensland stalwart and Australian opener Matt Renshaw is still considered a chance to make the initial squad to be announced on Wednesday morning after making his ODI debut only weeks ago, however at this stage looks less likely to be recalled to the final XI come November 21.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported late on Tuesday night that the selection race between Weatherald and Renshaw is on a “knife-edge”, according to one source with knowledge of selection discussions.

Renshaw last played Test cricket back in February of 2023 in India, and has played 14 Tests since his debut in 2016.

A source close to Konstas, according to the report, was resigned to the young gun losing his place in the side, believing selectors would look for a more experienced player to partner Khawaja at the top of the order.

In Labuschagne’s absence at three, Green has been the one to fill his void in Australia’s last four Tests, averaging 23.5 from eight innings with just one half century.

His numbers aren’t flattering so far at first drop, however, the 26-year-old spent crucial time out in the middle at the back end of the West Indies tour on tough batting tracks to hit 52, 46 and 42 in his last three innings.

Green’s capacity to bowl at full tilt this Ashes series remains unclear after missing Australia’s recent ODI series with India due to side soreness. He did not bowl in Western Australia’s most recent first-class fixture against South Australia.

That uncertainty could leave fellow all-rounder Beau Webster with the bulk of the responsibility as Australia’s fourth seamer, having only just returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for Tasmania’s first two Shield matches.

The 31-year-old missed out with the bat against Victoria at Junction Oval, however did bowl 23 overs across the match at a very respectful economy of just 2.35.

With Steve Smith, Travis Head and Alex Carey locked into Australia’s side at spots four, five and seven respectively, while the fast bowling cartel will be spearheaded by Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland in the absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins.

Boland played in Australia’s last Test match back in July, however has long been the country’s reserve pacemen behind Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood.

His impending selection in the first Test against England though will leave a vacancy in Australia’s squad ready for the taking, with uncapped duo Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott seen as the most likely quicks to fill Boland’s void as the reserve fast bowler.

Doggett took 6/48 against WA only last week in his opening first-class fixture this spring.

Queensland veteran Michael Neser has also been around Australia’s red-ball set up for many years now, and is a tried-and-tested bowler who made his Test debut against England back in 2021.

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