When it comes to Australia and Test cricket, the schedule is rarely bare.

In 2025, it’ll be one of the biggest seasons yet – just to complement what has just been one of the biggest summers in recent memory.

Later this month the Aussies will head to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series. Throw in the World Test Championship and a three-Test tour of the West Indies mid-year and it’s set to be a busy 2025 for the all-conquering side.

READ MORE: India unleashes hell on Test team over ‘colossal failure’

READ MORE: Roosters land ‘giant’ teenage brothers from rival club

READ MORE: Australian Open rocked as Wimbledon champ pulls out

But then comes the biggest challenge of all. The Ashes, in Australia.

How the Australian XI looks by then will be intriguing.

Usman Khawaja bought himself time with vital runs at the SCG. Beau Webster was quality on debut. And Cameron Green will be fit and firing by then, too.

And how do four fast bowlers fit into the one side?

When it comes down to it, the general crux of this team is likely to stay the same.

Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon are the absolute certainties barring injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

Khawaja, Sam Konstas and Marnus Labuschagne‘s form in Sri Lanka and the West Indies will likely dictate their spots.

The aforementioned Green’s fitness will be a big watch throughout the year but if he’s fit, he’ll be in the team somewhere. Australia may need a new opening batter if Khawaja’s career is done by then.

Webster’s selection likely depends on Green as well, although there could be a world – depending on Labuschagne’s form this year – where Smith moves up a spot to No.3 and Green slots in at No.4 when he returns.

During the SCG Test, head coach Andrew McDonald predicted that Webster and Green could potentially play in the same side.

“There’s a discussion coming up,” he said.

“I think [chief selector] George Bailey will look at that Sri Lankan squad at the end of this Test match and there’ll be a quick turnaround to the announcement.

“(Webster has) put his best foot forward … he’s up to the level, we wouldn’t have picked him if he wasn’t. Going forward what does that look like?

“It gives us another option which they’re incredibly rare and they tend to get injured across the journey so to have depth in that (all-rounder) area I think bodes well for us as a team.”

It does appear as though Webster’s success in his first Test spells the end for Mitchell Marsh in the red-ball format. His form after the axing is a big watch.

Then there’s the other big question: Josh Hazlewood or Scott Boland?

This is where selectors earn their keep, especially given the form shown by the latter when called upon against India and Hazlewood’s continued issues with injury.

In terms of Khawaja, the 38-year-old hasn’t hit a century since June 2023.

But he saved possibly his most important innings for the second dig at the SCG, when he hit 41 in a shaky run chase with wickets falling around him.

The veteran’s experience will be crucial when it comes to Sri Lanka and with a lack of options at the top of the order, he’s likely to push through until the Ashes.

Cummins said after the SCG Test “there’s no end date” on the fan favourite opener.

“I felt very comfortable when he was out there batting, he looked so assured,” he said.

“It literally doesn’t get any harder to open the batting on these pitches against a quality bowling attack. It’s the hardest job in cricket.

“I thought he looked really good at times, something he got some really good balls, he looks like he’s batting as well as he has any other time.

“Probably overall didn’t get the runs he would’ve liked but you get an innings like today [day three] where he just shows his maturity and experience is valuable, so who knows.

“I know he always says age is just a number, took some good catches as well so he was moving well. There’s no end date from our own end, as long as he’s still scoring runs.”

Aussie cricket fans will see plenty of change over the coming 18 months.