Australia have named Jhye Richardson for his first Test in more than four years, while Michael Neser has also returned as part of a confirmed XI for the Boxing Day Test.
After captain Steve Smith named a squad of 12 two days out from the marquee Test, which confirmed his return at the expense of Josh Inglis after missing the third Test in Adelaide with vertigo, Neser, Richardson and Brendan Doggett were left vying for two spots in the team.
However, Neser, who took five wickets in the second Test in Brisbane before being omitted for captain Pat Cummins, and Richardson were seen marking out their run-ups at the MCG on Boxing Day morning, with Smith confirming their returns at the toss, which England captain Ben Stokes won and opted to bowl first.
“We’ve got a nice squad of bowlers there – I’m looking forward to seeing how they go later on,” Smith, who confirmed he would have also bowled first, said.
“It was [a tough call] – I think everyone’s been doing really well, obviously we’ve been winning games of cricket, so it’s a tricky call.”
It’s Richardson’s first Test since taking five wickets to lead Australia to victory in the second Ashes Test of 2021/22, more than four years ago – coincidentally, Neser made his Test debut in that match.
Long regarded as one of the most promising young fast bowlers in the land, the Western Australian has been plagued by injuries since making his Test debut in early 2019 against Sri Lanka, having played only 27 first-class matches in a near ten-year career.
However, a strong return from his latest bout of injuries a few weeks ago for Australia A against the England Lions, taking a four-wicket haul in the first innings as part of an innings win, gave selectors the confidence to rush him into the squad after it was confirmed Cummins would take no further part in the series in order to manage his workload, having missed the first two Tests of the summer with a lumbar stress issue.
His three Tests have seen Richardson take 11 wickets at an impressive average of 22.09, while his first-class record is even better – 115 wickets from 27 matches at 20.70.
England have dropped out-of-form No.3 Ollie Pope, while star quick Jofra Archer will miss the rest of the series with a side strain.
Gus Atkinson and Jacob Bethell have been recalled.
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/12/26/confirmed-quicks-four-year-return-official-as-australias-boxing-day-xi-locked-in/‘Tricky call’: Quick’s four-year return official as Australia’s Boxing Day XI locked in, England win key toss
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