Australia Loses Cummins and Lyon for Boxing Day Ashes Test
Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon ruled out of Boxing Day Ashes Test due to injury and surgery.
Australia has been dealt a significant blow ahead of the fourth Ashes Test against England, with captain Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon ruled out of the Boxing Day clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The pair’s absence comes as part of ongoing injury management, with Lyon set for surgery on a torn right hamstring.
Cummins, who returned for the Adelaide Test after recovering from lower back issues, will miss the match as part of a managed workload plan. Steve Smith, who had captained the team in Cummins’ absence earlier in the series, will return as captain after missing Adelaide due to vertigo symptoms.
Lyon, 38, suffered the hamstring injury while saving a boundary on the final day in Adelaide, where he also claimed his 564th Test wicket, moving past Glenn McGrath to sixth on the all-time bowling list. The spinner is expected to be sidelined for an extended period following surgery.
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To cover for the injured stars, quick bowler Jhye Richardson and spinner Todd Murphy have been added to Australia’s 15-man squad. Murphy is set to make his home Test debut, having played his previous seven Tests overseas, while Richardson returns after a four-year hiatus, during which he underwent three shoulder surgeries.
Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc are expected to spearhead the attack alongside Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett, and Richardson, who will compete for spots in the playing XI. Despite the injuries, Australia enters the Melbourne Test with confidence, having already retained the Ashes following wins in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide.
Australia’s full squad for the Boxing Day Test includes: Steve Smith (capt), 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.
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