🏏 Cummins & Lyon Out: Australia Reshuffles Ashes

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Cummins & Lyon (11 wickets Adelaide) out for Ashes 4th/5th Tests
2🏆 Australia 3-0 up, eyes 5-0 sweep with Steve Smith captaining
3💡 Jhye Richardson, Todd Murphy step in for pace-spin balance
4🔮 Boxing Day Melbourne key to historic whitewash
5💬 Injury reshuffle tests Australia's famed depth

"Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon are out of Australia's squad for the fourth Ashes test, while Steve Smith returns to captain."

Australia confirms Pat Cummins rested and Nathan Lyon sidelined for remaining Ashes Tests, starting Boxing Day Melbourne clash. Cummins (back injury returnee) sits out 4th/5th; Lyon post-hamstring surgery, no return date. Steve Smith leads again, with Jhye Richardson and Todd Murphy in. With 3-0 lead, eyes on 5-0 sweep.

Cummins (11 wickets with Lyon in Adelaide) rushed back; Lyon's calf tear in third Test ends series. Australia's depth shines—Smith's leadership (third Test stand-in) proven. Historically, resting stars mid-series rare in Ashes, like Warne's 2005 absence.

Bowling Reinvention Under Fire

Murphy (Test average 25.6) replaces Lyon (350+ wickets); Richardson's pace (140kph) fills Cummins void. Adelaide duo took 11 wickets at 2.8 ER; new attack targets England's batting woes (average 22). Compares to India's 2021 rotation success vs England.

Path to Clean Sweep

Unassailable lead allows experimentation; Smith's captaincy (wins 3/5 prior) stabilizes. Impacts England's morale in must-win for pride, altering series narrative.