Smith Leads Australia in Melbourne as Cummins, Lyon Miss Ashes 2025/26 Test

Australian captain Pat Cummins and seasoned spinner Nathan Lyon are set to miss the fourth Ashes Test against England. Lyon faces surgery on a torn right hamstring and will be sidelined for an extended period. In response, Australia has called up bowler Jhye Richardson and spinner Todd Murphy to their 15-man squad for the match starting this Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia has already secured the Ashes, having won decisively in Perth and Brisbane and claiming an 82-run victory in Adelaide.

Here is the Australia squad:

• Steve Smith (captain)
• 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

Cricket Australia announced Cummins will skip the match as part of a management plan, following his return from lower back issues during the Adelaide Test, his first since July. Steve Smith, who previously led the team in Cummins’ absence during the initial Tests, will again captain the side, having missed the Adelaide Test due to vertigo.

Lyon suffered the hamstring injury while fielding on day five in Adelaide and has been a crucial player, recently surpassing Glenn McGrath to sixth on the all-time Test wicket list with 564 dismissals.

Murphy is primed for his first Test on home soil, with prior experience gained through seven overseas Tests, the latest being in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Richardson reenters the Test scene following a four-year hiatus and three shoulder surgeries. Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc are expected to spearhead the attack alongside either Neser, Doggett, or Richardson.

This article was published on December 23, 2025.

For more related content, see: Age and experience were Australia’s secrets to Ashes success, says Starc