Overview
- Pat Cummins was ruled out of the final two Ashes Tests after returning from a back injury to take six wickets in the series-clinching Adelaide win.
- Cummins said playing back-to-back Tests was "pretty high risk" and that he will now rest with the T20 World Cup in view.
- Head coach Andrew McDonald described Cummins' World Cup availability as "quite grey" pending further scans and medical checks.
- Nathan Lyon had surgery on the hamstring he injured in Adelaide and is set for a layoff of at least a few months.
- Australia went with an all-pace attack in Melbourne; their next Test is not until August, and their T20 World Cup opener is scheduled for February 11 against Ireland in Colombo.