By Reuters

This story was published on 21 Jul 202621 Jul 2026.

The two-Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship, adding significance to Australia's squad selection and player fitness management.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins, alongside paceman Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon, is back from injury and has been named in a 13-man squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against Bangladesh.

The trio were named on Tuesday for matches in Darwin (August 13-17) and Mackay (August 22-26), which form part of the World Test Championship cycle, after playing only three Tests between them ⁠during the Ashes in the last home summer.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 items

end of list

The famed quartet of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon has not combined in a Test since last year's West Indies tour because of injuries. However, chief selector George Bailey noted that it is premature to say whether all four will play against Bangladesh, even though they are fit.

“We won’t be locking in an 11 this far ‌out,” Bailey told reporters in a video call on Tuesday.

“We do know that across this two-Test series, the depth is there.”

With 295 Test wickets at an average of 24.21, 35-year-old Hazlewood has been one of Australia’s most devastating bowlers, but injuries have limited his output in recent years, including forcing him to miss the entire Ashes series with hamstring and Achilles problems.

In his absence, 37-year-old seamer Scott Boland took 20 wickets in an excellent series in the 4-1 defeat of England, and Bailey was frank about the competition Hazlewood faces from the Victoria quick.

“Scotty ⁠would never say it, but yeah, I think he’s mounting a strong case that ⁠when you use the words of big three (fast bowlers), that he could be one of those,” said Bailey.

Hazlewood’s recall means no place for Michael Neser despite the paceman’s fine Ashes campaign.

The squad is the first following opener Usman Khawaja’s retirement, potentially creating opportunity at the top of the ⁠order.

South Australia opener Jake Weatherald has been retained despite struggling during his debut Test series in the Ashes, when he averaged 22.33 across the five matches.

The pocket-sized left-hander has ⁠yet to convince, but Bailey said selectors saw positives in the opening combination ⁠with Travis Head during the Ashes.

“Hopefully we do see some growth out of that [Ashes] and some understanding of what it takes for success at Test level,” he said.

Cameron Green has also held onto his spot after a disappointing Ashes with bat and ball, and is one of two all-rounders ‌in the squad with Beau Webster.

Josh Inglis was retained as a potential middle-order batting option.

Australia sit top of the World Test Championship table midway through the cycle and will look to cement their place with a series win over ‌fourth-placed Bangladesh ahead of a tough tour of South Africa in October.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

Australia have faced persistent injury issues among their pace attack, which has provided opportunities for bowlers like Scott Boland to impress. The selection headache for the Bangladesh series reflects the team's depth but also the need to carefully manage player workloads ahead of a busy international calendar. The outcomes in Darwin and Mackay could influence the team's composition for future tours, including the next Ashes series.