Australia captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were both ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test against England on Tuesday. The veteran spinner will need surgery and will be sidelined for a long time.
A 15-man team for the match, which will begin on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, includes spinner Todd Murphy and quick bowler Jhye Richardson as cover.
With eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run triumph in Adelaide, Australia have already retained the Ashes.
Cricket Australia stated, “Pat Cummins will miss the match as part of his ongoing management plan,” with Adelaide serving as his first Test since July due to lower back problems.
After missing Adelaide due to vertigo problems, Steve Smith, who led the squad in Cummins’ absence during the first two Tests, will do so once more in Melbourne.
“Nathan Lyon will have surgery on a torn right hamstring which will sideline him for an extended period,” the governing body added.
On the fifth day of the Adelaide Test, Lyon, 38, hurt his right hamstring while saving a boundary and walked off. He moved up to sixth place on the all-time Test bowling list in Adelaide after taking his 564th wicket, surpassing fellow Australian legend Glenn McGrath.
Murphy, who has played seven Tests overseas, is scheduled to play his first Test at home. Earlier this year, he made his final appearance for Australia in Sri Lanka. Richardson was added after missing four years of Test matches due to three shoulder surgeries.
After performing admirably in Adelaide, Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc will once again spearhead the attack, with Richardson, Michael Neser, and Brendan Doggett fighting to join them.
Australia squad: Steve Smith (capt), 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
