Sydney, Jan. 1 -- Australia announced the 15-member squad on Thursday for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, starting on January 4 in Sydney, as confirmed by cricket.com.au.

In the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, veteran batter Steve Smith will continue to lead the Australian side. Pat Cummins missed the first two Ashes Tests against England after failing to recover on time due to a lower back injury.

Cummins returned to the side and played at the Adelaide Oval and captained Australia, as the host won and retained the Ashes.

However, the Australian management has decided to give Cummins rest for the remainder of the Ashes series to manage his workload and keep him fit for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Indi...