🏏 Cummins Unlikely for Melbourne After Epic Ashes Win

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Cummins: 6 wickets in Ashes return, economy 2.8 after 5-month injury layoff
2🏆 Australia retains Ashes in record 11 days, equalling 1936-37 feat
3💡 Tactical edge: Cummins' bounce exploited England's Bazball fragility
4🔮 No Melbourne for Cummins? Tests Australia's depth in dead rubbers
5💬 'Pretty amazing' series win – Cummins on rapid urn retention

"The Australia captain lauded the way the team had responded to various setbacks during the series"

Pat Cummins has revealed he's unlikely to play the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne or possibly the rest of the Ashes 2025-26 series after Australia clinched a stunning retention of the urn in just 11 days with an 82-run victory in Adelaide. The captain's heroic return from a five-and-a-half-month back injury saw him snag six wickets, capping a "pretty amazing" series turnaround. This rapid dominance leaves England reeling with two Tests remaining, reshaping the summer's narrative and raising questions on workload management for the pace spearhead.

Cummins' leadership has defined Australia's Ashes resurgence, boasting a captaincy record of 15 wins in 22 Tests since taking over in 2021, including three straight series victories. His personal stats shine with **67 wickets at 20.45 in home Ashes games. Coming off injury, his Adelaide haul echoed his 2023 heroics, but back-to-back Tests were always a stretch. Australia's clinical response to early setbacks underscores Cummins' tactical acumen in high-stakes battles.

Cummins' Tactical Masterclass Secures Urn

Cummins' spell dismantled England's middle order, claiming 3-37 in the first innings and 3-45 in the second, exploiting Adelaide's bounce with pinpoint accuracy. His economy of 2.8 runs per over mirrored Dennis Lillee's 1974-75 precision. Compared to Steve Waugh's 2001 leadership U-turn, this 3-0 lead in 11 days equals the fastest Ashes retention since 1936-37, blending aggression with resilience amid England's Bazball collapse.

Workload Risks in Australia's Dominant Summer

With the urn safe, resting Cummins preserves his fitness for the WTC final push, where Australia leads with 116 points. England faces a dead rubber, but Cummins' absence tests Starc and Hazlewood. Historically, overbowled captains like Ricky Ponting in 2005 suffered, making this prudent amid a packed 2026 schedule.

Melbourne Test Without the Captain?

Australia eyes a whitewash sans Cummins, pitting Lyon's spin against England's recovery bid. Fans watch if deputies like Labuschagne step up, with implications for WTC standings. This saga highlights leadership evolution in modern cricket.

"We had a pretty aggressive build-up knowing that it's the Ashes there to be won... Now that the series has been won, there might be a sense of job's done." – Pat Cummins, Australia captain