Australia release Josh Inglis, Beau Webster from Ashes squad, allow them to play BBL

Published - 28 Dec 2025, 11:20 IST | Updated - 28 Dec 2025, 11:31 IST

Cricket Australia has allowed key national players Beau Webster and Josh Inglis to leave the Australian dressing room ahead of the last game of the Ashes 2025-26 and join their respective sides to play in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26. With roughly a week to go for the fifth and final Ashes encounter, both the players have been allowed to feature in the annual T20 tournament.

The duo will be featuring for only one game each in the BBL, post which, they will have to re-unite with the Aussie squad, as the fifth and final Test is to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in an epic series finale. Webster, who plays for Hobart Hurricanes, will play a match at the team's home ground on Monday, whereas, Inglis will feature for the Perth Scorchers a day later.

"Webster will be available for the Hobart Hurricanes who play the Melbourne Renegades at Ninja Stadium in Hobart on Monday. Inglis will be available for the Perth Scorchers who play the Sydney Thunder at ENGIE Stadium on Tuesday. Both players will return to the Australian squad on New Year’s Eve to prepare for the Ashes Test at the SCG," Cricket Australia confirmed via a release on Sunday.

Ahead of the fourth Test, Australia had also confirmed that the star bowlers Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon won't be able to take part in the rest of the series for different reasons. Cummins is undergoing a workload management, whereas, Lyon has a hamstring pull which requires surgery, leaving him out of action for a prolonged period.

Australia expected squad for fifth Test: Steven Smith (captain), Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Jake Weathrald, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster, Michael Neser, Cameron Green, Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Todd Murphy, Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett