Australia has named its 15-man squad for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against England, confirming the absence of captain Pat Cummins and seasoned off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
With Cummins sidelined, veteran batter Steve Smith will assume the captaincy. Having returned from a back injury in the previous match, Smith has been rested for the remainder of the Ashes series as a precaution, according to Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald.
Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, has been ruled out following a recent hamstring operation on his right leg. The recovery process is expected to keep the experienced spinner off the field for an extended period. In his place, Todd Murphy has been called up to the squad, providing spin options alongside the team’s seam attack.
Fast bowler Jhye Richardson has returned to fitness and earned a spot in the squad, potentially filling the void left by Cummins. Although Michael Neser, Beau Webster, and Brendan Doggett did not feature in the Adelaide Test, they have been retained for squad depth.
Australia secured a commanding 3–0 lead in the Ashes series after defeating England by 82 runs in Adelaide, effectively clinching the series. The next challenge for the hosts will be the Boxing Day Test, scheduled to begin on 26 December at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia Squad – Fourth Ashes Test:
| Player | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | Captain / Batter | Leads the side in Cummins’ absence |
| Scott Boland | Fast Bowler | |
| Alex Carey | Wicketkeeper-Batter | |
| Brendan Doggett | Fast Bowler | Retained for squad depth |
| Cameron Green | All-Rounder | |
| Travis Head | Batter | |
| Josh Inglis | Wicketkeeper-Batter | |
| Usman Khawaja | Batter | |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Batter | |
| Todd Murphy | Spinner | Replaces Nathan Lyon |
| Michael Neser | Fast Bowler | Retained for depth |
| Jhye Richardson | Fast Bowler | Returning from injury |
| Mitchell Starc | Fast Bowler | |
| Jake Weatherald | Batter | |
| Beau Webster | All-Rounder | Retained for squad depth |
Australia will aim to maintain their dominant form as they face England at the MCG, with Smith at the helm and a slightly reshuffled bowling line-up. The hosts are determined to continue their unbeaten streak in this Ashes campaign, despite the absence of two senior players.