Australia rest Pat Cummins for Boxing Day Test after sealing Ashes, Nathan Lyon ruled out for surgery | Cricket News
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 workload and injuries after securing an unassailable Ashes lead over England.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday that Cummins had been rested as part of an ongoing management plan, while Lyon would 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 wins – eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane, followed by an 82-run triumph in Adelaide to take a 3-0 series lead. With the series well in hand, the selectors chose caution rather than continuity for the high-profile Boxing Day clash.Cummins, who returned to Adelaide after missing Tests since July due to lower back problems, took six wickets in the match. However, the fast bowler will now be away 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 his performance in the Boxing Day Test?
Steve Smith will return to captaincy after missing the Adelaide Test with symptoms of dizziness. Smith had already led the team in Cummins’ absence earlier in the series.The absence of Lyon is a hard blow. The 38-year-old injured his right hamstring while diving to save a boundary on day five in Adelaide and limped off the field. Despite the injury, he took his 564th Test wicket in the match, overtaking Glenn McGrath into sixth place on the all-time Test bowling list.Murphy is in line for a dream Test debut at home, having played his previous seven Tests abroad. The Victorian spinner edged out Matt Kuhnemann and Corey Rocchiccioli for the spot and last played for Australia in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Richardson, meanwhile, is considering a return to Test cricket after a four-year absence following three shoulder operations.Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc should once again spearhead the attack after doing well for Adelaide, with Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett also in contention.Australia team for the 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.
