Ashes 2025-26: Jhye Richardson likely to replace Pat Cummins for Boxing Day test

Australia led the 5-test Ashes series against England 3-0.

After making a full recovery from shoulder surgery, Jhye Richardson is in the running to play for Australia in the Boxing Day Test.

Since Australia won the Ashes 2025-26 series in Adelaide, Pat Cummins is likely to miss Melbourne and possibly the remainder of the series, leaving a gap in the pace attack.  

Richardson is reportedly close to being considered. However, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser, who claimed five wickets in Brisbane, played earlier in the series and would both be in the running to return to the starting lineup.

Pat Cummins had made his test return after last playing in red-ball cricket on the tour of the West Indies. He suffered from a recurrence of back injury and was advised to rest and rehab. Cummins had missed a series or two of white-ball cricket.

Having returned in a starring role in Adelaide, Cummins conceded it was unlikely he would back up with the Ashes won.

“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 had stated after Australia’s win in Adelaide.

Nathan Lyon, who has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury, must also be replaced. Although Corey Rocchiccioli of Western Australia might receive his maiden call-up, Todd Murphy is probably the frontrunner. Matt Kuhnemann, a left-arm spinner, had a successful tour of Sri Lanka and the West Indies earlier this year.

Jhye Richardson likely to replace Pat Cummins for the last two tests  

Jhye Richardson was not formally a member of the squad. However, he trained with the test group before Adelaide. If Richardson makes an official comeback, it will be precisely one year since his last Boxing Day Test match against India.

To address long-standing problems, he decided to have shoulder surgery, which kept him out of play for about a year.

In recent months, he has gradually resumed playing cricket, first in grade cricket and then for a Cricket Australia XI against the England Lions. After that, he played for Australia A against the Lions, increasing his workload and taking five wickets in 26 overs.

Richardson has only played three tests since his debut in 2018-19, taking 11 wickets at 22.09, in a career hampered by injury.

Due to his inclusion in the test team, Richardson was unable to attend the Perth Scorchers’ opening BBL match. However, he made a comeback for the historic game versus the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba.

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