Australia emphasizes on all-pace strategy for Boxing Day Test. Jose Inglis out, Jhye Richardson returns.

News India Live, Digital Desk: The Australian cricket team has announced its 12-member squad for the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes series 2025-26 against England i.e. the prestigious Boxing Day Test. The biggest change in this team selection is the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batsman Jose Inglis, while the team is preparing to take the field with an ‘all-pace’ attack i.e. only fast bowlers. This means that despite the injury of Nathan Lyon, no specialist spinner has been given a place in the team. A day before the match, captain Steve Smith revealed the team. He told that the pitch of Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is looking very green, on which there is about 10 mm of grass, in such a situation, the fast bowlers are likely to get a lot of help. The final playing eleven will be decided only after the last inspection of the pitch just before the toss. Some special things in the team selection are as follows: Captain changed: Regular captain Pat Cummins will not play in this test due to workload management or injury, due to which Steve Smith will once again captain the team. Jose Inglis out to handle: Due to team combination, wicketkeeper-batsman Jose Inglis has been dropped from the playing 12. Alex Carey will retain his place as wicketkeeper and Cameron Green will be seen batting at number seven. Jhay Richardson’s return: Fast bowler Jhay Richardson is making a comeback in the Test team after a long gap of four years. He had performed brilliantly in domestic cricket after recovering from shoulder surgery, which strengthened his claim for a place in the Test team. No spinner: Despite the injury to Nathan Lyon, the team also included young spinner Todd Murphy in the final. Has not been given place in the eleven. This will be the first time that Australia will field a lone specialist spinner in a home Test after 14 years, without Nathan Lyon (although no spinner at all now). Batting order change: With the return of Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja will bat at number 5, where he will play in Test cricket after almost four years. Travis Head and Jake Weatherald will continue as the opening pair. Australia already have an unassailable 3-0 lead in this Ashes series. Now it will be interesting to see how successful their ‘all-pace’ strategy is in the MCG conditions. Australia’s 12-man squad for the Boxing Day Test: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey. (WK), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson