Murphy and Richardson included in the team for Boxing Day Test, Nathan Lyon will undergo surgery

Melbourne, 23 December: Australia has suffered a big setback before the Boxing Day Test. Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test due to injury. In his place, 25-year-old off-spinner Todd Murphy has been included in the 15-member Australian team. At the same time, fast bowler Jhye Richardson is also on the verge of returning to the Test team after four years. Cricket Australia has confirmed that 38-year-old Nathan Lyon suffered a serious injury to his right hamstring while fielding on the last day of the Adelaide Test. After consultation with the specialist, the decision has been taken for him to undergo surgery, due to which he will be away from cricket for a “long time”. Murphy got priority. Todd Murphy has been given preference over Matthew Koonman, Corey Rocchioli and experienced leg spinner Mitchell Swepson as Lyon’s replacement. Murphy has taken 22 wickets in the seven Tests played so far, all of which have been abroad. Apart from this, his figures have also been impressive in Shield cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. If Murphy plays the MCG Test, it will be the first time in 14 years that Australia will field a lone specialist spinner other than Nathan Lyon in a home Test. Captain Cummins also out. Australian captain Pat Cummins will not play the fourth Test due to a back injury. Cricket Australia said that this decision has been taken under their “Workload Management Plan”. In his absence, Steve Smith will once again take over the captaincy. Possible changes in batting and fast bowling. Cummins’s exit has left a vacancy in the fast bowling attack, for which there is a competition between Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser and Jhay Richardson. Richardson has recently returned from shoulder surgery and it is not certain that he will play in the Test. In batting too, discussions are going on regarding team selection. Usman Khawaja has strengthened his comeback by playing innings of 82 and 40 runs in the third Test, while Josh Inglis has not yet been able to make a special impact at number 7. Role of spin on the pitch. MCG curator Matt Page has indicated that this time spin bowlers can also get help on the pitch, as was seen in the recent Shield match and Test against India. Australia’s 15-member teamSteve Smith (captain), 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.