Last Updated on 4 months ago by Charbel Coorey
Australia have retained the Ashes in dominant fashion, sealing a 3-0 triumph courtesy of an 82-run win in Adelaide. Series victory in 11 days is one of the fastest in history, but the hosts will make changes due to a host of factors.
Pat Cummins won’t play any further part in the series. Coach Andrew McDonald said it is important Australia manages his workload after the captain suffered a lumbar stress injury in the West Indies earlier this year.
Nathan Lyon will also miss the remaining two Tests after suffering a serious hamstring injury on day five at the Adelaide Oval. The offspinner will undergo surgery to repair the damage.
Australia possible XI for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG: 1. Jake Weatherald, 2. Travis Head, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Usman Khawaja, 6. Alex Carey (wk), 7. Cameron Green/Beau Webster, 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Todd Murphy, 10. Scott Boland, 11. Jhye Richardson
Todd Murphy was named as Lyon’s replacement in the 15-man squad. Given conditions will be warm and sunny in the middle part of the Test, the MCG track could take spin as the game wears on. However, McDonald is not sure.
“We’ve got some decisions to make. I just had a look at the wicket then. Do we play a spinner, don’t we play a spinner?” McDonald said, as quoted by CODE Sports.
“We’ll work through that. But yeah, it was an interesting conversation with the spin depth that we do have, which is full recognition to those also that were discussed.”
Who misses out for Steve Smith?
Other points of contention include who misses out for the returning Steve Smith plus the form of Cameron Green. Usman Khawaja, not originally selected for the Adelaide Test, had a solid outing with scores of 82 and 40. That may be enough for him to hold his spot in the middle order ahead of Josh Inglis.
However, with Alex Carey batting so well at six, Khawaja’s inclusion may mean Cameron Green drops down from number five to seven.
Will Cameron Green play?
That’s if Green is picked. Calls are growing louder for the underperforming all-rounder to be dropped for Beau Webster. Green has been short of runs in this series, with the nature of his dismissals a cause of concern. He also averages just 28.62 with no century in 18 home Tests.
“I think he’s bowled some important spells for us. His catching in the gully and shot-stopping ability there,” McDonald said of Green.
“Yeah, 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. And he’s a very good cricketer, and I’m sure that his next opportunity, he’ll be able to show that whenever that may be.”
How both Cameron Green and Beau Webster could make the XI
But, there is a possibility that both Green and Webster play if Australia opt not to play Todd Murphy. McDonald was quite complimentary of Murphy and how he has improved this season, but there is no guarantee he will play in this match.
“Todd’s been an important part of key overseas series. He played in the last Ashes back in 2023 and we feel as though Todd’s back to his best,” McDonald said.
“I think he had a couple of years where he, by his own admission wasn’t probably performing to his best, but he also was carrying a shoulder injury, and that probably wasn’t sort of declared. And sometimes people judge players’ performances without getting a full understanding of where they’re actually at.”
What about Jhye Richardson?
The fact Jhye Richardson was named in the squad with Michael Neser and Brendon Doggett already available could be a hint that the Western Australian is set for a Test recall.
Richardson’s last Test was against England in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide in 2021. The pace bowler was magnificent in the second innings, taking 5/42 to guide Australia to a 2-0 series lead. Since then, Richardson struggled with more injuries, most notably his shoulder.
Richardson made his return to red-ball action last month against England Lions. He went wicketless at Lilac Hill before impressing with 4/35 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
If Australia opt against playing Richardson, Michael Neser is likely to get the nod as Pat Cummins’ replacement after producing a superb performance at the Gabba earlier this month.
Australia squad for the Boxing Day Test: 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
