Australia will head into the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground without captain Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, opting to manage workloads and injuries after securing an unassailable Ashes lead over England.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday that Cummins has been rested as part of an ongoing management plan, while Lyon will undergo surgery on a torn right hamstring, sidelining him for an extended period. Todd Murphy and Jhye Richardson have been added to a 15-man squad for the fourth Test, which begins on Friday.
Australia have already retained the Ashes with dominant victories — eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane, followed by an 82-run triumph in Adelaide to take a 3-0 series lead. With the series safely in hand, selectors have chosen caution over continuity for the high-profile Boxing Day clash.Cummins, who returned in Adelaide after missing Tests since July due to lower back issues, claimed six wickets in the match. However, the fast bowler will now sit out in Melbourne and could also be under a cloud for the Sydney Test, given Australia’s focus on managing his long-term fitness.
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Will Australia’s decision to rest Pat Cummins impact their performance in the Boxing Day Test?
Steve Smith will resume captaincy after missing the Adelaide Test with vertigo symptoms. Smith had previously led the side in Cummins’ absence earlier in the series.Lyon’s absence is a significant blow. The 38-year-old injured his right hamstring while diving to save a boundary on day five in Adelaide and hobbled off the field. Despite the injury, he claimed his 564th Test wicket in the match, moving past Glenn McGrath into sixth place on the all-time Test bowling list.Murphy is in line for a dream home Test debut, having played all seven of his previous Tests overseas. The Victorian spinner edged out Matt Kuhnemann and Corey Rocchiccioli for the spot and last featured for Australia in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Richardson, meanwhile, is eyeing a return to Test cricket after a four-year absence following three shoulder surgeries.Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc are set to spearhead the pace attack again after pulling up well from Adelaide, with Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett also in contention.Australia squad for fourth Test:
- Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.