Australia names unchanged squad for second Ashes Test, with captain Pat Cummins still out

Australia will go into the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane next week with an unchanged squad, meaning there is no place for captain Pat Cummins.

The star paceman missed Australia's eight-wicket win in the first Test, recovering from a back stress injury.

Cummins was expected to lead Australia in the pink-ball Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, where Australia will attempt to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

Brendan Doggett, who was impressive on debut in the first Test, was expected to make way for Cummins in the starting side.

But selectors have chosen to stick with the same squad that pulled off a dramatic two-day win over the tourists in Perth.

A call on the final XI will not be made until closer to Thursday, when the series resumes in Brisbane.

But any hope Cummins had of playing in the second Test is now over, despite Australia's best bowler showing promising signs with his back.

Cummins spent a little over an hour bowling with a pink ball to Steve Smith in the SCG nets on Friday morning, boosting hopes of a return.

He will travel to Brisbane with squad, but now will not play until at least the third Test in Adelaide on December 17.

It means Doggett will likely hold his spot in Australia's bowling attack, alongside Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.

Cummins has not played in a match since Australia completed a clean sweep of the West Indies in July, when he first noticed soreness in his back.

There had also been speculation about the future of opener Usman Khawaja, who struggled with a back injury in the first Test. The veteran was off the field for too long in England's first innings and was ineligible to open in Australia's first innings, before coming in at number four and scoring just two runs.

Travis Head was promoted up the order to open with debutant Jake Weatherald in the second innings in Perth, and his smashing innings of 123 off 83 balls changed the course of the match, helping Australia chase down 205 for victory.

Khawaja is still in the squad, although Perth 12th man Beau Webster could still return in the lower order to allow Head to open with Weatherald instead.

Australian squad:

Steve Smith (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

ABC/AAP