Australia has named a 15-member squad for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against England, but it will be without captain Pat Cummins and veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
In Cummins’ absence, the Australian team will be led by Steve Smith. Cummins had made a comeback in the previous match after recovering from a back injury, but head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that the decision to rest him for the remainder of the Ashes series is a precautionary measure to avoid further risk.
Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, has been ruled out due to injury. The off-spinner is set to undergo surgery on his right hamstring and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period. To fill the void, Todd Murphy has been called into the squad.
Pacer Jhye Richardson, returning from injury, has also earned a place in the team and is being considered as a potential replacement for Cummins in the bowling attack. Although they did not play in the Adelaide Test, Michael Neser, Beau Webster, and Brendan Doggett have also been retained in the squad.
Australia currently leads the Ashes series 3-0 after securing a convincing 82-run victory over England in Adelaide, effectively retaining the urn. The much-anticipated fourth Test is scheduled to commence at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 December.
The complete Australian squad for the fourth Ashes Test is as follows:
| Player | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | Captain / Batsman | Leading team in Cummins’ absence |
| Scott Boland | Fast Bowler | |
| Alex Carey | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | |
| Brendan Doggett | All-Rounder | |
| Cameron Green | All-Rounder | |
| Travis Head | Batsman | |
| Josh Inglis | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | |
| Usman Khawaja | Batsman | |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Batsman | |
| Todd Murphy | Off-Spinner | Replaces Lyon |
| Michael Neser | Fast Bowler | Did not play in Adelaide |
| Jhye Richardson | Fast Bowler | Returning from injury |
| Mitchell Starc | Fast Bowler | |
| Jake Weatherald | Batsman | |
| Beau Webster | All-Rounder | Did not play in Adelaide |
With Cummins and Lyon unavailable, Australia will rely heavily on Smith’s leadership and the depth of their squad to maintain momentum in the final two Tests of this Ashes series.