Australia captain Pat Cummins has made a return to the side's squad for the third Ashes Test that is set to commence from December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. The 32-year-old had been absent from the squad for the first two Tests as he still hadn't fully recovered from the lumbar stress fracture that he had sustained months ago. With Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the series due to injury, the return of Cummins will massively strengthen Australia's bowling attack.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald stated that Cummins was close to making his return in the Brisbane Test, but acknowledged that the time between the second and third match allowed the pacer to fully recover.
"The gap between (Tests) one and two and two and three was something we thought we could manage, so it will more than likely be the best balanced and available attack for Adelaide. So we wouldn't be thinking that someone would need to rest there, it's probably more so in Test matches four and five," McDonald told reporters on Tuesday.
"Pat will be available and, in the squad, so that obviously creates a different balance to our attack," he added.
Khawaja also included in the squad
Alongside him, veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja remains in the fray and has been pickked despite concerns with his fitness. Notably, he had sustained neck spasms during the first Test and this had seen him miss out on the second match. It remains to be seen if the 38-year-old will be named in the playing XI for the third Ashes Test.
"'Uz' (Khawaja) should be fit and available, and then we will work out our batting order based on the surface and work out our bowling selections based on the surface and the opponents that we think that they may present to us," McDonald stated.
Australia on the cusp of Ashes triumph
Meanwhile, Australia will go on to seal the Ashes series if they win the third Test as they have already won the opening two games. They have completely dominated over England in both the batting and bowling departments and have handed them two cosecutive eight-wicket defeats. It remains to be seen if the visitors will bounce back from those losses and manage to come out victorious in the upcoming match.
Australia's squad for 3rd Ashes Test: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.