Winning the Ashes has to be the immediate focus for national selectors, but they’ll need to make some “tough calls” on ageing players to avoid leaving a “big hole” in the Test team, according to legendary Australian captain Steve Waugh.

Australia will field an ageing team against England, with opener Usman Khawaja set to turn 39 during the series and likely playing his last home summer Test series.

Fast bowler Mitch Starc turns 36 next January and has already retired from T20 internationals to play Test cricket for as long as possible.

Fellow quick Josh Hazlewood also turns 35 in January, spin star Nathan Lyon will be 38 later this month, and even Scott Boland, set to take the place of injured captain Pat Cummins in the opening Ashes Test in Perth, is 36.

There was criticism that selec

See Full Page