Australia Ashes Squad Update: Pat Cummins & Nathan Lyon Miss Boxing Day Test at MCG

Australia have finally shown some cracks in an Ashes series they have mostly dominated. For the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), they will be without two key players, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, as they aim to complete a 5–0 series win against England.

Australia managed to win the Gabba Test without them, and Cummins has played only one of the three Tests so far. Despite this, the team has been far stronger than England. They are also without Josh Hazlewood, one of their best bowlers.

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Josh Hazlewood Bowler

It won't be wrong to define Josh Hazlewood as the modern day adaptation of the legendary Glenn McGrath.

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Nathan Lyon Bowler

Nathan Lyon is a 38-year-old Australian cricketer known for his right-arm off-spin bowling.

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Pat Cummins Bowler

Pat Cummins is an Australian Test and ODI captain, renowned right-arm fast bowler, and an influential all-format player, captaining Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL and leading Australia to multiple ICC trophies (WTC, ODI World Cup), known for his leadership, resilience through injuries, and explosive batting cameos, becoming a global cricketing icon with key records like consecutive T20 WC hat-tricks.

Captain Pat Cummins has been rested for the Boxing Day Test to manage a back problem that appeared earlier this year. Cummins had mentioned after the third Test that playing in Melbourne was unlikely. The selectors have taken a cautious approach, keeping in mind the upcoming Sydney Test, the T20 World Cup, and the IPL 2026.

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Australia Founded: 1877

The Australian cricket team is the joint oldest team in Test cricket history and has a tremendous record in one-dayers, having won more than 60% of the matches they have played.

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England Founded: 1739

England is regarded as the birthplace of cricket and has won the Ashes 32 times.

Nathan Lyon will also miss the match after tearing his hamstring while diving in the field on the final day in Adelaide. The 38-year-old may need surgery and could be out for several months, although Australia do not have another Test until later this year.

Todd Murphy has been chosen as Lyon’s replacement. He will play his first home Test after performing well in Lyon’s absence during the 2023 Ashes and on his debut in India.

Jhye Richardson has been recalled to possibly replace Cummins. The fast bowler from Western Australia has not played a Test in over four years due to injuries but has returned strongly. He will compete with Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett for a place in the XI.

With Pat Cummins missing, Steve Smith is expected to captain the team again, if he is fully fit after his vertigo episode that kept him out of the third Test. His return could force selectors to make tough decisions, with Usman Khawaja and Josh Inglis most likely to miss out.

Ashes 2025-26: Australia Squad for 4th Test at MCG

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

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