• Source:JND

Ashes 2025, Australia vs England 4th Test: Australia have announced their squad for the fourth Test against England in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series, which is scheduled to be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 31. Skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon will miss the Boxing Day Test as the hosts aim to extend their lead in the five-match series.

A few days after their dominating win in the previous game, Cricket Australia confirmed a couple of changes in the squad as Jhye Richardson and Todd Murphy have returned to the Test side. Cummins, who is the captain of Australia’s Test and ODI side, has been rested as part of his injury management. He missed the first two Tests before producing an impressive effort in the third Test in Adelaide.

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Australia will be heading into the Boxing Day Test on the back of an 82-run victory, and they are 3-0 ahead, having already retained the Ashes. The 29-year-old Richardson has played just three Tests for Australia and has taken 11 wickets, and his last Test appearance for the national team in the longest format was way back in December 2021 against England at Adelaide Oval.

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On the other hand, Lyon, who is Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, is out due to an injury that he suffered on Day 5 of the third Test. Murphy will likely be seen in action straightaway as the lone regular spinner in the fourth Test. In the absence of Cummins, Steve Smith will once again take over the captaincy duty. The senior batter also captained Australia in the first two Tests of the ongoing series, which they won on the back of remarkable performances to completely outclass England.

Smith, who is one of the four Australians to score more than 10,000 runs in Tests, missed the third game last week due to injury but will bat at No. 4 in Melbourne. It will be interesting to see if Usman Khawaja, who scored a half-century in the first innings, manages to retain his place in the playing XI.


Australia’s squad for the 4th Test against England

Steve Smith (C), Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Beau Webster


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