Who are the Australian Test stars set to feature in BBL after Ashes triumph?

After successfully retaining the Ashes with a 4-1 triumph at home against England, most of the members of the Australian Test team will return to Big Bash League (BBL) on Saturday.

Barring opener Travis Head, pacer Scott Boland, spinner Nathan Lyon and all-rounder Cameron Green, rest of the players will turn up for their respective teams in the domestic T20 competition.

While Head and Boland miss out due to workload management, Lyon has a hamstring injury and Green doesn’t hold a BBL contract.

Usman Khawaja, who retired from international cricket after the fifth and final Test in Sydney, and Marnus Labuschagne will join Brisbane Heat for its game against Sydney Thunder. Pacer Brendan Doggett, who played only the first two Tests, will be a part of the Melbourne Renegades squad against the Melbourne Stars for the match set to take place later on the same day.

READ | Australia wins final Test to complete 4-1 Ashes triumph over England

On Sunday, Steve Smith, who led Australia in four of the five Tests, and spinner Todd Murphy, will be available for Sydney Sixers’ fixture against Hobart Hurricanes, who will have all-rounder Beau Webster and potentially, opener Jake Weatherald at its disposal.

Pacer Mitchell Starc, who was named the Ashes ‘Player Of The Series’ for taking 31 wickets, will rest for a few days before joining the Sixers in next Friday’s Sydney derby. It will also end his decade-long absence from BBL.

Fast bowler Michael Neser will be available for the Heat from Wednesday when the side visits Hobart Hurricanes. Wicketkeeper-batters Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers) and Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers), and pacer Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers) might also be in action during Sunday’s clash between the two sides.

However, fast bowlers Pat Cummins (back issue) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring and Achillies issues) are not expected to play in the BBL as they continue to recover from their respective injury problems before the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Published on Jan 09, 2026