AUS vs ENG 4th Test: Joffra Archer out of entire series
Sports Desk, New Delhi. AUS vs ENG 4th Test Playing 11: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today announced the playing-11 for the fourth Test match of the Ashes series against Australia. This is the fourth match of the five-match Test series, which will be the Boxing Day Test, which is scheduled to start from 26 December 2025 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the current series, the England team is trailing 0-3.
For this Test match, the England team captained by Ben Stokes has made two changes as compared to the playing-11 of the previous Test match. Right-arm fast bowler Joffra Archer has been ruled out of the remaining matches of the series for the Boxing-Day Test, while Ollie Pope is also out of the playing-11.
AUS vs ENG 4th Test: Joffra Archer out of entire series
Actually, for the Boxing-Day Test, Jacob Batchelor has been included in the playing-11 for the fourth Test in place of Ollie Pope, who will bat at number-3. Gus Atkinson returns, having missed the third Test which was played in Adelaide. Injured Joffra Archer has returned to the playing-11 in place of Adkinson.
Ashes 2025: England's playing-11
Jack Crowley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Batchelor, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacques, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue.
Earlier, the Australian team had announced a 15-member squad for the Boxing Day Test. Captain Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon are not available.
Off-spinner Todd Murphy and fast bowler Richardson have got a place in the squad, who will be seen playing in the fourth Test. Steve Smith will captain the team in the absence of Pat Cummins, while all-rounders Michael Nacer and Beau Webster and Braden Doggett have made their places in the squad. In the Adelaide Test, the Australian team defeated England by 82 runs and took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
Cummins has been rested for the Melbourne Test as he has just returned from a back injury, while the captain is likely to return for the final Test which is scheduled to be played in Sydney from January 4. Murphy has been made Lyon's replacement.
Also read- English players will be investigated for drinking alcohol during the Ashes tour, the board took a big decision
Also read- 'I have nothing in my hand...', will coach Brendon McCullum be fired after England loses Ashes 2025?