The Gabba is baking under the Queensland sun, and the oldest rivalry in cricket is about to ignite once more. Both Australia and England have officially finalized their 17-man squads for the 2026-27 Ashes series. Yet, as the players land in Brisbane, the conversation has quickly shifted from team lists to the medical room and the state of the pitch.
For Australia, the headlines center on Mitchell Starc. The veteran left-arm quick is nursing a stubborn hamstring strain picked up during training last week. While captain Pat Cummins has downplayed the severity of the injury, the home side has kept West Australian speedster Lance Morris on high alert just in case. Starc remains crucial to Australia’s plans, but the selectors cannot afford a passenger in a five-day battle.
“Starcy knows his body better than anyone,” Cummins told reporters on Tuesday. “We are not going to risk him if there is a chance of a long-term tear, but we are confident he will line up on Thursday. He is a tough character.”
The rest of the Australian lineup looks settled but aging. Steve Smith, likely playing in his final home Ashes series, will slot in at number four, sandwiched between Marnus Labuschagne and the explosive Travis Head. Nathan Lyon is ready to spin his web on a Brisbane deck that always promises bounce, while Alex Carey retains the gloves after a stellar domestic summer. Cameron Green, returning after back surgery, adds vital balance as the all-rounder.
England’s Pace Dilemma
Across the divide, England’s preparations are, as usual, a mix of high hope and medical anxiety. Skipper Ben Stokes has declared himself fit to bowl, but the real talking point is Jofra Archer. The talismanic fast bowler, whose career has been plagued by recurring injuries, missed England’s final warm-up game in Canberra with what team management officially called general soreness.
England coach Brendon McCullum tried to project calm, but the travelling press pack is already nervous. If Archer cannot go, the heavy lifting will fall to the veteran Mark Wood and the tireless Chris Woakes. Gus Atkinson is also waiting in the wings, eager to make his Ashes debut on Australian soil. England needs raw pace to trouble the local batsmen, and losing Archer would be a massive blow before a ball is even bowled.
In the batting department, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will open. Harry Brook, now the undisputed crown prince of the English batting order, remains the key wicket for Australia. Alongside Joe Root, who is making what is surely his final tour down under, Brook will need to counter the extra bounce that Brisbane always offers.
The Green Monster at the Gabba
That brings us to the pitch. Gabba curator David Sandurski has been under the microscope all week. Heavy rain in southeast Queensland earlier this month threatened to disrupt his preparation, but a recent dry spell has allowed him to groom a traditional Brisbane pitch. It looks green, hard, and fast.
“We want a pitch that has something for everyone,” Sandurski said. “There is a nice grass cover to keep the ball swinging early on, but once the sun gets to it, it should flatten out into a very good batting track. The bounce will be true.”
Historically, the Gabba has been a fortress for Australia, though India famously broke that spell a few years ago. England has historically struggled here. Memories of Steve Harmison’s wide first ball in 2006 and Rory Burns’ first-ball dismissal in 2021 still linger in the minds of travelling fans. Stokes, however, is keen to look forward rather than back. His brand of cricket does not allow for fear.
“We know what happened here in the past, but this is a different group,” Stokes said. “We want to play brave cricket. If we get rolled, we get rolled playing our way. But we are here to win.”
The wait is almost over. The squads are locked. Now, it is up to the physios and the pitch to decide how this opening act unfolds.
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