The fourth Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series will be played from December 26 to 30. For the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground from Friday (December 26), the Australian team management has dropped wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and not included spinner Todd Murphy in the final 12. The Aussies have decided to go with an all-pace attack at the much-anticipated Test of the Ashes series.

Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson are part of Australia XII, but one of them will miss out on the playing XI.
Neser picked up a five-wicket haul for the Baggy Greens in the second Ashes Test, which was played at The Gabba from December 4 to 7. He made way for Pat Cummins in the third Test but is likely to be back for the fourth fixture. It will be a toss-up between Doggett and Richardson for the fourth pacer’s slot.
According to Steve Smith, who will lead the hosts in the fourth Test, Australian selectors want another look at the MCG surface before settling on their attack.

“We’ve landed on a 12. We want to take a look at the wicket tomorrow," Steve said on Thursday. “We’re going to be playing four quicks and no spinner. (The pitch) has 10 mm of grass, quite furry, quite green."

“You just have to play what surface you’re presented with; this one looks like it’s going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers, and the weather throughout the week looks conducive for that too."

“I think if Nathan (Lyon) was (available), we’d probably still be having the same conversation as well, so it’s certainly nothing to do with Todd’s skill," he added.

Smith missed the third Test in Adelaide due to an injury-related issue, but he will be back to lead the Aussies in Melbourne. In place of Smith, Usman Khawaja batted at No. 4 in both innings of the Adelaide Test, and in Melbourne, the left-handed batter will be seen in action at No. 5, followed by wicketkeeper Alex Carey at 6 and all-rounder Cameron Green at 7.

Khawaja played as an opener for the majority of his career, but after Travis Head scored a century as an opener in the second innings of the first Ashes Test, the Australian team management decided to continue with him only as the opening batter. In the second innings of the third Test, which Australia won by 82 runs last week, Head slammed another century (170) to strengthen his position as the top-order batter for Australia in the five-day format of the game.

Australia’s XI for the 4th Test: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey (WK), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson