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Who replaces Lyon and Cummins for the Boxing Day Test?
Sam Kosack • December 22nd, 2025 11:52 am
Australia will need to bring in two bowlers as they look to secure an Ashes whitewash with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon both expected to miss the Boxing Day Test.
Cummins is likely to be rested for the Melbourne Test, having only returned from a back injury in Adelaide, with the captain conceding he probably won’t play now the Ashes have been retained.
Meanwhile, the remainder of Lyon’s series is in doubt after the veteran spinner suffered a hamstring injury early on Day 5 at the Adelaide Oval.
With only two weeks remaining in the Ashes summer, the ageing Lyon would be hard pressed to return from such an injury in time, particularly given the need for crutches.
With a number of options presently in the squad and in domestic cricket, SEN Cricket’s Lisa Sthalekar looked over the options who could join the XI.
“In terms of spin, Matt Kuhnemann is the guy they normally go to, but that's on subcontinent pitches, so will they go for a traditional off-spinner?,” Sthalekar told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“There's Todd Murphy and there's Corey Rocchiccioli from WA.
“A lot of the guys are saying he bowls very similar to Nathan Lyon, and his numbers in Shield cricket have been good.
“So they seem to be the names that keep being thrown up.
“In terms of (fast) bowling, who to come in, we've had (Brendan) Doggett, we've had (Michael) Neser, but then we also had Jhye Richardson who missed a Big Bash game and came and bowled to the Aussie boys before this Test match.
“It makes me think, are they looking at him now potentially coming back in, but he's a guy who's had so many injuries, please don't rush him.”
Australia could be boosted by the return of Steve Smith, who missed the Adelaide Test with a vestibular issue.
The return of Smith will force one of Usman Khawaja, Josh Inglis or Cam Green out of the side.
Khawaja was initially left out of the XI for the third Test before being brought in late when Smith was ruled out, going on to make scores of 82 and 40.
This places pressure on Inglis and Green, with both batters struggling for runs in Adelaide, averaging 21 and 3.5 respectively.
With the series won, the answer is clear to Sthalekar.
“For me, given that we're 3-nil up, I think it's important that Australia keeps looking forward,” Sthalekar said.
“So unfortunately, as well as Usman Khwaja performed… if Steve Smith's ready, Smith comes back in because I'd like to see Inglis being given more opportunities to kind of cement his place.
“He looked a little bit lost at sea in his last innings, so I'd love him to have the opportunities to play at this level.”
The Boxing Day Test kicks off on Friday and the SEN Cricket team will be at the MCG to call every ball LIVE.
