Ashes 2025-26: Pat Cummins likely to miss Boxing Day Test, Jhye Richardson set for comeback

Australia, having already clinched the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 with an unbreachable 3-0 lead, will likely be playing the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground without Pat Cummins. Potentially, Cummins could rule himself out of the series to stay fit and fine ahead of the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League in early 2026. Cummins does not want to take any risks with his fitness for these assignments.

This has opened the gates for a possible comeback of Jhye Richardson to the Test set-up.

Notably, the right-arm pacer has been away from the international squad since undergoing a shoulder surgery. If the reports are to be believed, the selectors were keenly looking at Richardson for a return for the latter stages of the England Tests, and now, the wait may just finally end.

“We had a pretty aggressive build-up knowing that it's the Ashes there to be won, and we thought that was worth it. Now that the series has been won, there might be a sense of job's done and let's reassess the risk,” Cummins was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Cummins further gave a strong hint that both Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are going to feature for the Boxing Day encounter, with it being unlikely that Brendan Doggett or Michael Neser feature instead of either of the mainstays.

"Good luck to anyone telling Starcy or even Scotty Boland that they're going to miss a Boxing Day Test if they're fully fit," Cummins said firmly.

The Aussies have already won the Ashes for this year, as the skipper looked brilliant in his maiden outing in the series, with the returning Nathan Lyon also delivering a crucial spell. Ben Stokes-led England crumbled against a quality bowling attack, and gave up, failing to chase the target on the Day 5 at the Adelaide Oval. The fourth Test will begin on December 26 in Melbourne, where Steve Smith is set to lead Australia again.

Smith had already taken the charge for the first couple of Tests in Perth and Brisbane, respectively. If Cummins decides to rest himself for the remainder of the series, Smith will have the responsibility of leading the troops in two dead-rubber contests. However, the contests are not as meaningless with respect to the World Test Championship cycle, as Australia can strengthen their dominance at the points table.