Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood back in contention as Australia confirm squad for remaining Ashes Tests

Marcus Harris, Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser all retain their places for the Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart matches

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Australia have captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood available for the remainder of the Ashes after both players were included in the squad for the final three Tests of the series against England.

Cummins missed the second Test win in Adelaide after being forced to self-isolate having been identified as a close contact to a Covid-19 case.

Hazlewood was omitted as a precaution due to a side strain suffered during the nine-wicket victory in the first Test in Brisbane.

But both players have retained their places in an unchanged 15-strong group for the rest of the summer.

Jhye Richardson and debutant Michael Neser were added to the playing XI for the day/night Test and also remain.

Marcus Harris is set to keep his place at the top of the order despite scores of 3, 9*, 3 and 23. Usman Khawaja is the back-up batter.

Second-choice spinner Mitchell Swepson is part of the group, giving Australia the option of fielding him in tandem with Nathan Lyon at the SCG where it traditionally spins.

The series resumes with the Boxing Day Test at the MCG (December 26-30) before games in Sydney (January 5-9) and Hobart's Bellerive Oval (January 14-19).

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22

Comments

Posted by Alex Windsor on 20/12/2021 at 11:47

DRS is totally unbelievable.How anyone can seriously place any credence in it is beyond me.

Posted by Ramani. P on 20/12/2021 at 11:15

They can replace only nesar for pat cummins

Posted by Robin Sen Gupta. on 20/12/2021 at 08:17

Given the state of the series no change was warranted.

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