Australia will welcome Pat Cummins back as captain for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide next week, but Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the series with an Achilles issue. Hazlewood’s focus will now shift to preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed Cummins is fully fit despite not playing since July, following a lumbar bone stress injury. “His body’s ready to go, and barring any setbacks, I’d expect him to be tossing the coin and putting on the blazer,” McDonald said. Cummins has been match-ready through intense net simulations and multiple bowling spells to replicate test conditions.
Hazlewood, who had already been recovering from a hamstring strain, will not play any further part in the Ashes. McDonald described the injury as a “totally separate” Achilles problem and expressed disappointment at missing his pace spearhead for the series.
The coach also addressed Nathan Lyon’s role despite being omitted from recent pink-ball tests. McDonald reiterated the value of spin in Australian conditions and expects Lyon to have a major impact in the final three tests in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Australia’s selection ahead of Adelaide will likely see Cummins and Lyon return, potentially leaving Brendan Doggett on the sidelines, while Michael Neser retains his place after a maiden five-wicket haul in Brisbane. Scott Boland is expected to continue in the XI, with no rest planned given the short four-day gap before the Melbourne Test.
McDonald added that Mitchell Starc had recovered well from minor side soreness during the Gabba Test, providing further reassurance for Australia’s bowling attack as they prepared to reclaim Ashes momentum in Adelaide.
