Cummins and Lyon out of rest of Ashes

AUSTRALIA Captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon will miss the rest of the Ashes series, starting with the Boxing Day Test against England in Melbourne.

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Cummins is being rested for the fourth and fifth Tests after rushing his return from a back injury to play in the decisive third Test in Adelaide.

Spinner Lyon had surgery on the hamstring injury he suffered in Adelaide on Tuesday and there is no timeframe for his recovery.

Batter Steve Smith, who missed the third Test with illness, once again steps up to lead in Cummins’ absence, while Todd Murphy comes in to replace Lyon.