In a significant move ahead of the crucial fourth Test, Australia have announced a 12-man squad for the Boxing Day clash against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The selection features a major comeback and a change in leadership, underlining the hosts' aggressive approach after already retaining the Ashes urn.
Smith Takes the Helm as Richardson Makes Long-Awaited Return
With regular captain Pat Cummins ruled out for the remainder of the series, the responsibility of leading the side falls on the experienced shoulders of Steve Smith. Smith, who missed the Adelaide Test, is back in the lineup and will captain the team at the iconic MCG starting December 26.
The most notable inclusion in the squad is fast bowler Jhye Richardson. The pacer is set to play his first Test match for Australia since the year 2021, marking a remarkable return to the highest level after a long battle with injury. Richardson has earned his recall on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket following his recovery from shoulder surgery.
All-Pace Attack Strategy for Melbourne
The selection clearly indicates Australia's intent to field an all-pace bowling attack for the Melbourne Test. The squad includes four specialist fast bowlers, with spinner Todd Murphy, who was brought in as a replacement for the injured Nathan Lyon, missing out from the final twelve.
This will be the second time in this Ashes series that Australia has opted for a four-pronged pace battery. A similar strategy was employed during the day-night second Test in Brisbane, where Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser played key roles.
Speaking about the conditions and team composition, stand-in skipper Steve Smith provided insights after the squad announcement on December 25. "We've landed on a 12, we just want to take a look at the wicket tomorrow. We're going to be playing four quicks and no spinner," Smith stated. He described the MCG pitch as having "10mm of grass, quite furry, quite green," and predicted significant movement, especially under the cold and overcast conditions forecast for the first day.
Squad Composition and Omissions
The return of Steve Smith to the playing XI has resulted in the omission of wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis. Experienced opener Usman Khawaja has retained his place in the 12-man group. The team management has yet to finalise the exact playing eleven, with one player from the announced squad to be omitted on the match day.
Australia's XII for the fourth Ashes Test is: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson.
Australia head into this match with immense confidence, having retained the Ashes in just 11 days after dominating the first three Tests of the 2025-26 series. The selection for the Boxing Day Test reinforces their plan to maintain relentless pressure on the English batting lineup with a formidable pace attack.
