They were dubbed ‘Dad’s Army’ before a ball was bowled. What next for this champion generation?

Almost inevitably, these Ashes-winning Australians were branded “Dad’s Army” before a ball of the summer was bowled.

Almost as predictably, the moniker rang true.

Pat Cummins (32), Josh Hazlewood (35 next week), Nathan Lyon (38), Steve Smith (36) and Usman Khawaja (39) were all hobbled, mostly by old man injuries, at one point or another, yet the urn was secured in near-record time.

This ageing, settled and successful side now boasts five Ashes retentions – three under Cummins’ leadership – the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and away series wins in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies, though they did surrender the World Test championship to South Africa last June.

In white-ball land, the stunning 2023 ODI World Cup victory in India is still fresh in the memory, and sits alongside a 2021 T20 World Cup upset triumph (even if the format’s fickle nature and two-year tournament cycle dulls those memories).

The legacy of this generation is already secure. The pace triumvirate of Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins is statistically the best of any in Test history by several measures, and anecdotally, they vie for any podium you can name at least.

What does the immediate and long-term future hold for this Test side?Credit: Michael Howard

Lyon sits alongside them as one of the game’s most successful and enduring off-spinners, Smith is a regular fixture in “best since Bradman” conversations, and the two years when Khawaja averaged 58 as a reinvented opener will only be truly appreciated in time.

The sheen of Khawaja’s record has dulled with the type of decline often seen in an athlete on the wrong side of 30. But like so many in modern times, Australia’s best have turned their supposed twilight years into career-best campaigns.

At 35, Mitchell Starc sits behind only Jasprit Bumrah in the world Test bowling rankings. His 55 wickets at 17 in 2025 were easily the most taken by any bowler and easily the best returns of his career.

Jimmy Anderson might have taken the last of his 704 wickets a few weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, but for Starc to be still hitting 145km/h late on a 40-degree Adelaide day is its own sort of remarkable.

Meanwhile, Alex Carey is, at 34, the best wicketkeeper in the world and has lifted his own career average to 35.95. In his own quiet, affable way, he now sits behind only Adam Gilchrist (47.6) among Australian glovemen.

Only Travis Head (31 and the world’s most dynamic batsman across three formats) scored more runs than Carey this year.

Aside from keeping their ageing champions on the paddock, the biggest concern of selection chair George Bailey is the bridging generation following them – certainly with the bat at least.

Marnus Labuschagne was put through his paces in the MCG nets ahead of the Sydney Test.Credit: Getty Images

Marnus Labuschagne’s resurrection at No.3 this summer has stalled, as has Cameron Green in his steady shuffle down the order to No.7.

Labuschagne may well be just one score away from something like his fluid best. Coach Andrew McDonald noted last week Labuschagne’s retreat to defence had been his undoing, albeit under the duress of difficult pitches.

At 31 and 26 respectively, Labuschagne and Green were viewed as long-term options at three and four only two years ago.

Green in particular seemed on the cusp of proving that with a match-winning 174* in Wellington when Smith was trialled unsuccessfully as an opener.

Even with underrated contributions in the West Indies, though, injuries and soft dismissals have limited him to just 300 runs at 21.4 since that hundred against New Zealand – and the wait for his true Test breakthrough continues.

With Jake Weatherald yet to prove himself at Test level and Josh Inglis also struggling to make an impact this summer, concern for the next iteration of Australia’s batting line-up remain.

As champions proven several times over, the more of Dad’s Army that are fit and rolling around for the next Border-Gavaskar and Ashes battles, the better.

This generation’s legacy is a fine one, and yet the lure of ending decade-long winning droughts in India and England is as intriguing as it gets.

So too, exactly how much those charged with succeeding Dad’s Army can contribute.

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