Ashes 2025-26: No Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon as Australia name squad for Boxing Day Test

Australia have named a strong 15-player squad for the fourth Ashes Test match against England in Melbourne. However, they will be without the mainstay skipper Pat Cummins and experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon, as Steven Smith returns to captaining the hosts for the Boxing Day encounter, to be played from December 26 at the historic venue of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Notably, Cummins' absence is simply precautionary, as his side has already won the series. He will continue his workload management by resting himself for the fourth match. Lyon, on the other hand, has had an issue with his hamstring since the 2023 Ashes. The issue came to the fore once again as the veteran bowler tore his right hamstring, and will now undergo a surgery that has ruled him out for an indefinite period.

“Pat Cummins will miss the match as part of his ongoing management plan. Nathan Lyon will have surgery on a torn right hamstring, which will sideline him for an extended period,” Cricket Australia said in a media release on Tuesday, December 23.

Jhye Richardson earns call-up after a year

Meanwhile, as a replacement for the sidelined Cummins, the Aussies have welcomed Jhye Richardson back to their set-up once again, as the pacer is featuring in the squad after exactly one year. He had been part of the Boxing Day Test in 2024 against India, but soon after, he underwent a surgery on his right shoulder, requiring him to stay away from cricket for almost a year.

However, it is not certain whether Richardson will get a go in the final XI that takes the field for the five-day encounter, since Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are likely to be assisted by Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett to complete the pace attack. The only possibility of all the fast bowlers playing would be if the hosts opt for an all-pace attack, with Lyon ruled out.

Australia squad for Boxing Day Test

Steven 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, and Beau Webster