Webster, Inglis released for BBL duty before Sydney Test
No one else will play BBL after the two-day MCG Test but a number of players should be available after the Ashes finishes
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Dec-2025 • 4 hrs ago
Josh Inglis will return for Perth Scorchers between the final two Ashes Tests • Getty Images
Beau Webster and Josh Inglis have been released from Australia's squad to play one game each in the BBL before the Sydney Test following the two-day finish in Melbourne.
Webster will be available for Hobart Hurricanes' match against Melbourne Renegades in Hobart on Monday while Inglis will feature for Perth Scorchers against Sydney Thunder in Sydney on Tuesday. They will rejoin the Test squad in preparation for the final Test at the SCG which starts on January 4.
Webster has yet to feature in the Ashes but may come into contention for the final Test at the SCG with Cameron Green struggling for runs. Inglis, meanwhile, was dropped for the MCG encounter having played in Brisbane and Adelaide where he failed to convert his starts.
Inglis lost out when the selectors stuck with Usman Khawaja in the middle order after his last-minute recall to replace an ill Steven Smith in Adelaide where he responded with 82 and 40.
No one else has been released for the BBL between the fourth and fifth Tests although there is an expectation that several of the squad will slot into their BBL sides following the conclusion of the Ashes.
Smith is due to appear for Sydney Sixers while Mitchell Starc is in line for his first BBL appearance in 11 years provided he is cleared by Australia's medical staff after likely appearing in all five Tests. Starc has retired from T20Is and won't feature in the upcoming T20 World Cup, meaning he will likely have a break after the BBL before heading to the IPL.
There is also a chance that Josh Hazlewood could use the tournament to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup having missed the entire Ashes with hamstring and Achilles injuries.
Pat Cummins is on Sydney Thunder's marquee supplementary list, which allows Test players to be added to a club's main BBL squad if available, although it's highly unlikely he will feature having not been considered for the final two Tests after his comeback in Adelaide helped secure the Ashes.
Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne should be available for Brisbane Heat, as could Michael Neser providing he pulls up without any problems after the Tests, Travis Head and Alex Carey could return for Adelaide Strikers and Green for Perth Scorchers.
Jhye Richardson appeared for Scorchers before his Test recall and will likely return to the competition after the final Test. Jake Weatherald (Hobart Hurricanes), Scott Boland (Melbourne Stars) and Brendan Doggett (Melbourne Renegades) could also make appearances.
Renegades had hoped to see Nathan Lyon for the first time since his move from Sixers but the hamstring injury he suffered in Adelaide has curtailed that. His replacement, Todd Murphy, will be able to return to the Sixers' side after the final Test, where he will hope to make his first home appearance having not been selected at the MCG.
This season's schedule has created a window for Test players to feature in the latter part of the BBL, but next year won't be the same with Australia having a five-Test series in India starting in January straight after the home series against New Zealand.
There may yet be some availability squeeze for Australia's T20 players during this season's finals depending on when the squad leaves for Pakistan, where they are due to play three T20Is as preparation for the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The BBL finals start on January 20 with the decider on the 25th.