Published on: Dec 10, 2025 5:50 pm IST|Updated on: Dec 10, 2025 5:50 pm IST
In what comes as a huge boost for the Australian team and its fans, regular skipper Pat Cummins has been named in the 15-man squad announced for the 3rd Ashes 2025-26 Test in Adelaide. The pace bowler is added along with Usman Khawaja to the 13-man squad that featured in the second Test of the series at the Gabba.
Australia’s Squad for the 3rd Ashes Test in Adelaide,
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
Cummins is back, but his partner in crime, Josh Hazlewood, has been unfortunately ruled out of the entire series due to an Achilles issue, with his recovery now set to focus on getting ready for the T20 World Cup slated for February 2026.
Cummins missed the opening two Tests of the series due to a lumbar back stress injury, and he hasn’t played competitive cricket since the third Test against the West Indies in Sabina Park in July this year. Cummins was closely monitored for his recovery, and he finally got a green signal from the physios to feature in the rest of the Ashes series. He will be leading the side in the remainder of the series, taking over the leadership role from Steven Smith, who led the side in Cummins’ absence.
“He was well ahead of where we thought he’d be at and it did create a real live conversation for Brisbane,” head coach Andrew McDonald said.“With that in mind, us seeing him further advanced, we feel he’ll be really well placed for the challenges of Adelaide…We feel as though the simulation in the nets has got him skill ready. His body’s ready to go. Barring anything else happening in the next week, I’d be expecting Pat to be tossing the coin and putting the blazer on.”
“He was well ahead of where we thought he’d be at and it did create a real live conversation for Brisbane,” head coach Andrew McDonald said.
“With that in mind, us seeing him further advanced, we feel he’ll be really well placed for the challenges of Adelaide…We feel as though the simulation in the nets has got him skill ready. His body’s ready to go. Barring anything else happening in the next week, I’d be expecting Pat to be tossing the coin and putting the blazer on.”
Usman Khawaja was another addition to the squad from the last game. Although he was a part of the squad in the last game, Khawaja couldn’t find a place in the eleven, as he failed to recover from a back injury, which forced him to sporadically take part in the first Test of Ashes 2025-26 in Perth.
With Cummins back, he will be at the helm of things, leading the side. Usman Khawaja, if fully fit, should get into the eleven for Josh Inglis and will open the innings as well. Usman opening the innings means Travis Head will be back to his original no. 5 position in Test matches. Let’s take a look at the expected playing XI of Australia.
Nothing’s going England’s way. Already being 0-2 down in the series, they have now suffered another major blow to their Ashes with tearaway pacer Mark Wood ruled out of the remainder of the series. The 35-year-old featured only in the opening Test of the series and ended up wicketless. Wood has suffered a recurrence of the problem, which sidelined him for the majority of 2025.
Wood will be returning home to start his rehabilitation under the keen eyes of the England Cricket Board’s medical staff. A knee injury often takes a lot for a pacer to revive his career, something Wood would be wary of. At 35, it will be quite difficult for Wood to return for what is probably his last thrust. Only time will tell whether he shines on his return or fades away.
For now, England have called up Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher to replace Wood. The right-arm pacer is currently touring Australia with the English Lions and has claimed two wickets in three matches, notably dismissing Zak Crawley during a warm-up game at Lilac Hill.