Cummins conceded on Sunday that he is unlikely to back up from Adelaide with the Ashes won, and may yet sit out the Sydney finale as well to ensure his full recovery from a back injury.
With Starc and Scott Boland expected to take their places on December 26, veteran seamer Michael Neser – who took a decisive 5-42 in Brisbane – and Brendan Doggett will also enter selection calculations as Cummins’ replacement.
Jhye Richardson during his last Test for Australia against England in late-2021.Credit: Getty
Richardson’s gradual return from shoulder surgery has raised hopes he will feature at the back end of the Ashes. The 29-year-old was most recently included in the Australian set-up for last year’s Sydney Test against India, before going under the knife days later in the hope of fixing a shoulder prone to dislocation.
A little over a year ago, Richardson’s shoulder popped out of place celebrating a wicket for Western Australia. He has previously had to limit himself from giving high-fives because of the debilitating injury, which has also impacted his throwing and diving in the field.
Selectors have long valued his skiddy pace and movement both through the air and off the pitch, with a Test career limited to just three appearances and 11 wickets at 22.09.
Richardson’s return to red-ball cricket this summer has seen him progress from grade cricket to playing for a Cricket Australia XI and Australia A against the English Lions – bowling 26 overs for the match and taking 4-35 in the first innings.
While Australia don’t play a Test after the Ashes until next August’s home series against Bangladesh, the following 18 months are jam-packed with marquee tours of South Africa, India and the 2027 Ashes.
Adding a fit and firing Richardson to the Test bowling stocks would be a significant boost given the turnover this summer alone that has seen Cummins and Josh Hazlewood play only Ashes Test between them so far.
As well as replacing Cummins and Lyon on Boxing Day, Australia are set to welcome Steve Smith back as captain after his recovery from the vertigo and dizziness that ruled him out in Adelaide.
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Usman Khawaja’s scores of 82 and 40 in Smith’s place have put Josh Inglis – who has batted at No.7 in the past two Tests – under most pressure to retain his spot, though all-rounder Cameron Green has also had an underwhelming summer with the bat so far.
Australia will resume training on Tuesday with an optional session. England are expected to call up reserve batsman Jacob Bethell in place of battling No.3 Ollie Pope.
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