Pat Cummins ruled out of last two Ashes Tests

Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes. The 32-year-old missed the first two games but featured in the third in Adelaide, after rehabilitating for a back stress injury. With the series secured 3-0, Cummins has been afforded rest for the last two fixtures—something he had hinted at after the Adelaide fixture.

Fast bowler Jhye Richardson and off-spinner Todd Murphy have been added to the squad for the Boxing Day Test.

"He won't play any part in the rest of the series," Australia head coach Andrew McDonald told reporters on Tuesday. "We've now won the series, and that was the goal. To position him for further risk and jeopardise him long term is not something that we want to do.

"Pat's really comfortable with that. If he had any setback in the build-in as well, we would have shut him down straight away," McDonald added.

Steve Smith should return and lead the team in Cummins's absence, pending his recovery from an inner-ear issue that sidelined him in Adelaide.

Australia will also be without Nathan Lyon. Cricket Australia confirmed that Lyon needs surgery after tearing his right hamstring during the third Test in Adelaide. Murphy is now in line to make his Test return at home after last playing the format in Sri Lanka in February this year.

If chosen to replace Cummins, Richardson could end a four-year wait to play a Test again, having last played in the Ashes in 2021. He underwent his third shoulder surgery earlier this year and has been training with the team through the first three Tests, gradually increasing his bowling loads. Earlier this month, Richardson showed his readiness by bowling 26 overs and picking a five-wicket haul against England Lions.

Australia squad for 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