The Australia National Cricket Team have suffered a couple of massive blows ahead of the last two Tests of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series against the England National Cricket Team.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the remainder of the matches, and the bowling great Nathan Lyon will also miss the rest of the series as he is set to undergo surgery after suffering a hamstring tear, confirmed the Aussie head coach Andrew McDonald.
Pat Cummins ruled out of the Ashes 2025-26
Australia are leading 3-0 in the ongoing five-match Test series against England and have already retained the urn. However, the last two Tests still hold crucial importance with the ICC World Test Championship points on the table.
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Team Australia have faced a lot of injury issues in the series as Josh Hazlewood was earlier ruled out with an injury, Pat Cummins made his way into the squad only for the third Test before being ruled out again due to back issues, Nathan Lyon tore his hamstring, Usman Khawaja had some fitness issues, and vice-captain Steve Smith missed last Test due to vertigo-like symptoms.
Despite all this, Australia have looked absolutely dominant in the Ashes and thrashed the English team in back-to-back matches.
Meanwhile, the selection committee has recalled Todd Murphy for the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and he is highly likely to replace Nathan Lyon in the playing XI.
Also, the paceman Jhye Richardson has been recalled to replace Pat Cummins in the squad, and he is in contention to play his first Test in four years.
I’m not willing to say Uz will be a lock but what he’s done is he’s performed really well – Andrew McDonald
In the batting side of things, Australia were forced to make a change in the top order in the first Test when Usman Khawaja suffered a back spasm, and Travis Head was promoted to open alongside Jake Weatherald.
However, in the last Test, Usman Khawaja got an opportunity when Steve Smith was ruled out, and he scored good runs, but as the vice-captain returns, the team management will have to make a tough call. Talking about this, Andrew McDonald said:
“I’m not willing to say Uz will be a lock but what he’s done is he’s performed really well, [122] runs in that game at late notice. I felt as though he’s back to that attacking sort of play. He’s still a good player, and age shouldn’t factor into any of our decision-making.”
“Alex Carey at six, I like what he’s doing there,” McDonald said. “So my assumption is, and I’ll have a little bit of a say in that, that he’ll stay six.”
Cameron Green has been struggling hard in Test cricket and hasn’t been able to make any contributions with the bat. However, he has received some backing from the head coach, who said:
“The returns haven’t been there, but we’ve also seen what capabilities and the upside that he has and he’s an important part of what we’re setting out to achieve in the short-term and the long-term. He’s a very good cricketer, and I’m sure that his next opportunity, he’ll be able to show that whenever that may.”
Australia squad for fourth Test vs England:
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
Ins: Todd Murphy, Jhye Richardson. Outs: Pat Cummins (management), Nathan Lyon (hamstring)
