Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has issued a forthright public warning to Cricket Australia and its selectors ahead of the upcoming Ashes series, urging a serious review of the national Test side’s ageing profile and succession planning.
Waugh pointed to the fact that a large portion of the Australian Test squad is now in the latter stages of their careers — with key players such as Usman Khawaja nearing 39, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood both in their mid-30s, and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon already 38. Waugh emphasised that while experience is invaluable, too many senior players going at once could create a “big hole” in the team.
He specifically called out chief selector George Bailey and the selection panel for lacking a consistent appetite for tough decisions in past cycles. “George Bailey’s going to have to make some tough calls…and I think in the past he hasn’t really had the appetite for that,” Waugh said. “Because it is a time of transition. The bowlers are in their 30s and some of the batsmen are getting on as well.”
A central part of Waugh’s message was timing and balance. Rather than a mass exodus or hasty overhaul, he argued for a phased transition: enough fresh talent introduced to preserve continuity, but not so many changes at once that the team’s core identity is disrupted. “You just want to make sure three or four players don’t go out at the same time,” he said. “That leaves a big hole in the team.”
He also raised concerns about player influence in selection processes, stating: “I’d like to see the selectors pick the sides, not the players. There’s been a lot of players recently picking sides and saying who should be in the team.” Waugh’s implication was clear — selection culture needs to shift back toward governance by independent decision-makers rather than by consensus among senior players.
Waugh’s remarks come less than three weeks before the five-Test Ashes series begins in Perth. Australia’s selection panel has faced scrutiny over the fact that the announced 15-man squad features only one player under 30, signalling that the core remains firmly senior. The bowling attack — long dominated by Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon — remains effective but thin on younger reinforcements ready to take over.
The warning is timely. Australia’s dominance in Test cricket has been built on a blend of experience, work ethic and continuity. But as legends fade out and retirements loom, the next generation must be ready to step up. Waugh’s message isn’t simply about removing older players, but about proactively mapping the future and maintaining balance.
In short: Steve Waugh’s public appeal to Cricket Australia is a clarion call for strategic renewal. With the Ashes around the corner and an ageing squad at its backbone, the selectors face a dual challenge: win now and build for the future. Waugh has reminded them that time is ticking — and decisions made now will echo beyond the next summer.
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