Australia’s decision to select Jhye Richardson for the next Boxing Day Test, starting December 26, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), comes with regular captain Pat Cummins taking a break after the Ashes 2025 series victory.
Jhye Richardson Replaces Pat Cummins for Ashes 2025 Boxing Day Test
Richardson was part of the Test squad training before the Adelaide Test. A video of him bowling with the red ball in the nets went viral on social media. Although the Western Australian bowler was not officially in the group for the Adelaide Test, he is now all set to take over Cummins’ place for the second last Test. His getting back into the squad happens almost a year after his last Test squad appearance, which also was for the Boxing Day Test against India in 2024, before he had his surgery to mend the shoulder issues.
Richardson has been slowly but steadily working his way back into cricket and increasing his commitments across various formats. His progression has included several club matches, playing for a Cricket Australia XI, and then performing well for Australia A against the England Lions, taking five wickets in 26 overs. The right-arm quick was a part of the Perth Scorchers cricket team in the Big Bash League 2025-26 and took a wicket on the very first ball of the season against the Brisbane Heat.
The return of Richardson not only different in a good way to the Australian pace attack but also an indication that he has recovered from injuries, and the timing could not have been better as it coincides with one of the most popular cricket matches in the calendar year.
Why Pat Cummins Is Missing Ashes 2025 Boxing Day Test?
Pat Cummins was dealing with a stress fracture in his lower back that led him to the Ashes 2025. Thus, the Australian captain could not participate in the white-ball series against South Africa and India at home. He also missed the first two matches of the current five-match series against England. Captain Cummins played his first match after the injury during the Adelaide Test, where he took six wickets, leading Australia to a thrilling win by 82 runs.
While keeping the urn and taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, Australia’s skipper cummins has confirmed that he will not take part in the next Boxing Day Test. This was a huge gap in Australia’s pace attack, which was already missing Josh Hazlewood, for the crucial clash in Melbourne. Selectors are looking at Richardson’s name after he came back smoothly from shoulder surgery, although Michael Neser, who took fifer in the second Test, and Brendan Doggett, who played the first two Tests, are still in the running.
Speaking at the post-match press conference after the last Test, Cummins hinted that the management of his workload would become a priority now that the series is secured.
Cummins remarked, “We put ourselves under a rather heavy pressure knowing that the Ashes were on the line, and we thought it was justified.” “Since the series is won already, probably there is a feeling of done deal, and we can reevaluate the risk.”
Besides Cummins, the Australian team is missing the important player Nathan Lyon, who got injured in the hamstring during the Adelaide Test, which makes the Australian selectors have many tough decisions to make. While the fast-bowling group is concerned, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are likely to continue in their places. In Cummins’ absence, Steve Smith is going to wear the captaincy hat as he is completely recovering from the vertigo problems that were the reason for his not participating in the third Test.
Australia squad for 4th Ashes 2025 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
