England avoid Ashes whitewash as fourth Test ends inside two days
England ensured the Ashes would not end in a clean sweep by securing a four-wicket win over Australia after just two days in the fourth Test at Melbourne.
Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon miss out as Australia make changes for Boxing Day Test
Cummins will miss the remaining two Tests of the series as the captain continues to manage his back injury while spinner Lyon is set to got for surgery on a torn hamstring.
The home side have added slow-bowler Todd Murphy and paceman Jhye Richardson to their 15-man squad.
Steve Smith, who missed the third Test in Adelaide due to illness, will return as captain in the absence of Cummins.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said of Cummins: "We were taking on some risk and people that reported on that would understand the risk associated with that rebuild.
"We've now won the series and that was the goal. So, to position him for further risk and jeopardise him long-term is not something that we want to do and Pat's really comfortable with that."
While Murphuy seems a shoe-in to replace Lyon in the XI, McDonald did not ruled out playing an all-pace attack in Melbourne.
Australia Test squad: Steven Smith (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
Ashes: 20 wickets tumble on chaotic Boxing Day opener as England struggle again
England were skittled for 110 inside 30 overs on the opening day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne, after earlier bowling Australia out for 152 thanks to Josh Tongue's five-wicket haul.
Agony and ecstasy: Captains Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes react to Ashes decider
Australia secured the 2025 Ashes with victory in the third Test on Sunday, bringing a broad smile to Pat Cummins’ face, but opposing captain Ben Stokes was wallowing in the mire.
Ashes annihilation: Jubilant Australia secure Test series 3-0 in Adelaide
England put up a fight, but ultimately Australia grabbed the four wickets they needed for an 82-run victory in the third Test and secure the Ashes 3-0 on Sunday.