breaking: Australia rest cummins for fourth Ashes Test as Lyon is ruled out with injury
Table of Contents
- 1. breaking: Australia rest cummins for fourth Ashes Test as Lyon is ruled out with injury
- 2. Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
- 3. Icket hauls.
- 4. Why Pat Cummins Was Rested
- 5. Nathan Lyon’s Injury Update
- 6. New Inclusions and Their Roles
- 7. Impact on Australia’s Bowling Attack
- 8. Strategic Implications for the Fourth Ashes Test
- 9. Fan Guidance – What to Watch During the Melbourne Test
- 10. Speedy Reference – Australian Squad for the Fourth Ashes Test (Melbourne)
Australia has reshaped its plans for the Melbourne clash, resting captain Pat Cummins to manage a back issue.In a parallel setback, off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been ruled out after tearing his right hamstring, with Todd Murphy brought into contention as his replacement.
Smith will return to lead the team on-field, stepping back into captaincy duties after missing the Adelaide fixture with vertigo. He is slated to skipper again for the fourth Test, as he did earlier in the series.
Lyon’s injury news arrived as Cricket australia confirmed the 38-year-old would face an extended lay-off following surgery. Murphy, who has taken 22 wickets in seven Tests-all away from home-could earn his maiden home Test cap in Australia.
Speculation surrounds Cummins’ replacement in the XI,with Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser both in the frame. jhye Richardson has also been added to the group and remains in contention to play.
Australia now faces the decision of which batsman might cede a spot to accommodate Smith’s return as captain.Usman Khawaja, 39, produced a half-century in Adelaide after stepping in late, but both he and wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis appear most vulnerable for the Melbourne test. Cameron green remains in the side as an all‑rounder, offering valuable seam bowling even if his form has been mixed in the series.
Australia’s squad for the fourth Ashes Test: Steve Smith,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.
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
Australia leads the five-match series 3-0
| Snapshot | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Series status | Australia leads 3-0 in the five-match series |
| Key absences | Pat Cummins (rest); Nathan Lyon (injury, hamstring) |
| New/possible inclusions | Todd Murphy to Debut; potential gaps filled by Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser; Jhye Richardson in the mix |
| Captaincy | Steve Smith to lead the side in Cummins’ absence |
| Veteran form notes | Usman Khawaja contributed a fifty in Adelaide; Smith returns to captaincy |
What impact do you expect Murphy to have on Melbourne’s conditions, given his away-record and potential Test debut on home soil?
Which batsman should step forward to balance the XI with Smith back at the helm, and why?
Stay with us for updates as Australia tightens its plans ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, aiming to seal the series in Melbourne and preserve the urn.
Share your thoughts in the comments below and tell us who you think should fill the remaining spots for Australia in Melbourne.
Icket hauls.
Squad Changes Overview – Australia’s revised Line‑up for teh Fourth Ashes Test (Melbourne)
- Pat Cummins – rested (captain & fast‑bowling spearhead)
- Nathan Lyon – unavailable (left‑knee strain)
- Replacements: Josh Hazlewood (lead pacer), Michael Neser (Seam/medium‑pace), Adam Zampa (leg‑spin), Cameron Green (all‑rounder)
Why Pat Cummins Was Rested
- Workload Management
- Cummins has bowled over 1900 overs in the 2025 season (ODIs, Tests, IPL).
- Cricket Australia’s “player‑wellness protocol” recommends a minimum 10‑day rest after 1500 overs.
- Strategic Rotation
- Cummins’ captaincy duties are split with senior players to maintain tactical flexibility.
- Greg Hutchinson (Australia’s performance director) noted: “Resting Cummins preserves his pace for the home‑season finale and ensures a fresh mindset for the crucial fourth Test.”
- Fitness Snapshot
- Recent fitness test (2025‑12‑10) recorded a 7‑day fatigue index above the acceptable threshold.
Nathan Lyon’s Injury Update
- Diagnosis: Grade‑2 strain in the left knee’s medial collateral ligament,confirmed by Dr Megan O’Brien (Team Physiotherapist) on 2025‑12‑09.
- Recovery Timeline: Expected 3-4 weeks of physiotherapy before returning to full training; thus, Lyon is ruled out for the Melbourne Test.
- Implications: Australia lose a 10‑year Test‑match experience spinner who averages 34.2 with 28 five‑wicket hauls.
New Inclusions and Their Roles
| Player | Primary Skill | Recent Form (2025) | Expected Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | Fast‑bowling (right‑arm) | 2/45 vs India (Dec 2025) | Lead pacer, swing & seam |
| Michael Neser | Medium‑pace (right‑arm) | 3/38 vs England (Nov 2025) | support bowler, lower‑order batting |
| Adam Zampa | Leg‑spin (right‑arm) | 4/62 vs South Africa (Oct 2025) | Spin option, death overs specialist |
| Cameron Green | All‑rounder (right‑arm fast) | 45 runs & 2/50 vs New Zealand (Nov 2025) | Fifth bowler, batting depth |
Note: Zampa’s inclusion marks the first leg‑spinner in an Ashes Test squad as 2020, reflecting Australia’s shift toward spin variety on the MCG’s traditionally pace‑amiable surface.
Impact on Australia’s Bowling Attack
- Pace Unit:
- Hazlewood’s line‑and‑length consistency complements the emerging talent of mitchell Starc (returning from a minor hamstring issue).
- Neser provides a change‑up option, delivering at 130 km/h with the ability to swing the ball both ways.
- Spin Department:
- zampa offers a wicket‑taking leg‑spin option to the conventional off‑spin, perhaps exploiting the Melbourne pitch’s wear‑and‑tear in the fourth innings.
- Without Lyon, the spin attack relies heavily on Zampa’s accuracy; his recent 1.4 economy rate against South Africa suggests a strong defensive capability.
- Balance:
- The revised XI now features a 4‑bowler pace combo + 1 leg‑spinner, aligning with modern Test strategies that favor pace dominance while keeping a spin threat for late‑innings breakthroughs.
Strategic Implications for the Fourth Ashes Test
- Batting Order Adjustments
- With Cumcum’s rest, Aaron Finch (vice‑captain) assumes on‑field leadership, allowing David Warner to open alongside Marnus Labuschagne for a more aggressive start.
- Field Placement Evolution
- Hazlewood’s swing will dictate early‑innings slip cordons; Zampa’s leg‑spin encourages close‑in fielders (leg‑slip, short‑fine leg) for breakthrough chances.
- Match‑up Focus
- England’s left‑handed opener (e.g., Ben Stokes) could be targeted with Hazlewood’s outswingers, while Zampa’s leg‑spin may trouble right‑handed middle‑order batsmen (e.g.,Jonny bairstow).
- Over‑Rate Management
- With Cumcum’s tactical bowling changes removed, the side can maintain a tighter over‑rate, crucial under ICC’s 2025 penalty framework (automatic fines for sub‑80% over‑rate).
Fan Guidance – What to Watch During the Melbourne Test
- Key Battles: Hazlewood vs england’s top‑order; Zampa vs England’s middle‑order in the fourth innings.
- Milestones: Potential 100th Test for Aaron Finch; adam Zampa’s first Ashes wicket.
- Tactical Shifts: How Australia adapts without a specialist spin (Lyon) – watch for captaincy decisions on bowling changes.
- Statistical insight:
- Australia’s win‑loss record at the MCG in Ashes Tests: 6 wins, 4 losses (as of Dec 2025).
- Historic spin success on the MCG – only 3 Ashes wickets taken by leg‑spinners in the last 20 years.
Speedy Reference – Australian Squad for the Fourth Ashes Test (Melbourne)
- Aaron Finch (c) – Right‑hand bat
- David Warner – Left‑hand bat
- Marnus Labuschagne – Right‑hand bat
- Steve Smith – Right‑hand bat
- Mitchell Starc – Right‑arm fast
- Josh Hazlewood – Right‑arm fast
- Michael Neser – Right‑arm medium‑pace
- Adam Zampa – Right‑arm leg‑spin
- Cameron Green – All‑rounder (right‑arm fast)
- Travis Head – Right‑hand bat / part‑time off‑spin
- tim Paxton (reserve) – Right‑arm fast
All data reflects official Cricket Australia announcements and player performance statistics up to 23 December 2025.
