Australia's triumphant Ashes campaign has been hit by a significant double injury blow, with captain Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon both likely to miss the remainder of the series against England.
Captain and Key Spinner Face Sideline Stint
Following the victory in Adelaide that secured a 3-0 series lead and retained the Ashes urn, the Australian camp is now grappling with major fitness concerns. Captain Pat Cummins has cast serious doubt on his participation in the iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, stating he is also uncertain for the series finale in Sydney beginning on 3 January.
"I doubt I'll be playing Melbourne," Cummins admitted post-match. "And then we'll have a chat about Sydney. Certainly before the series, while it was live, we were prepared to take on the risk. Now it's done, I think we need to have a chat about it."
Cummins, who took six wickets in the Adelaide win, was playing his first match since suffering a back stress injury in July. His potential absence is compounded by the likely loss of Nathan Lyon, who suffered a serious hamstring injury on the final day of the third Test.
Lyon's Injury a Major Setback for Australia
The sight of Lyon, Australia's second-highest Test wicket-taker, leaving Adelaide Oval on crutches painted a grim picture for the hosts. The 38-year-old off-spinner hobbled off the field and was sent for scans, which have not yet been formally released.
"It doesn't look great," Cummins said of his teammate's prognosis. "Seeing someone on crutches doesn't really bode well for a Test match a week away. Gaz is pretty close to irreplaceable."
The search for Lyon's replacement is already underway, with left-arm orthodox spinner Matt Kuhnemann and off-spinners Todd Murphy and uncapped Corey Rocchiccioli considered the frontrunners to fill the void for the final two matches.
Selection Headaches and Silver Linings
Australia's fast-bowling resources will also be tested. Cummins joked about the difficulty of resting the only pace pair to feature in all three Tests so far, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
"Good luck to anyone telling Starcy or even Scotty they're going to miss a Boxing Day Test if they're fully fit," he remarked. Fast bowlers Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett remained with the squad in Adelaide and could come into contention.
On a positive note, the team remains confident that star batsman Steve Smith will return for the Melbourne Test after missing the Adelaide match due to vertigo. The management will assess all players over the next 48 hours before finalising their squad for the iconic MCG fixture.
While the series result is secured, these injuries threaten to disrupt Australia's momentum and offer England a glimmer of hope as they seek to salvage pride in the final two contests of a one-sided Ashes battle.
