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Adelaide Ashes XI: Who's in who misses out?
SEN • December 9th, 2025 8:52 am
Off the back of Australia’s dominance in Brisbane, Bharat Sundaresan and Tom Morris have pieced together their ideal XI’s ahead of the Adelaide Test.
Entering South Australia with a 2-0 lead over England, Australian selectors have a tough task on their hands, with the return of captain Pat Cummins and the rumoured re-inclusion of Nathan Lyon at the top of the agenda.
With the short turnaround to Melbourne in mind, Bharat Sundaresan listed his preferred Australian setup for the third Test.
“Travis Head and Jake Weatherald – I know there’s, for some strange reason, still some chatter about whether they will stick with that opening operation… it was their opening partnership that really set the Test match up! It completely knocked the Test match on its head,” Sundaresan said.
“Head, Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith at three four. Cam Green five, Inglis six, Alex Carey seven. Pat Cummins as captain, Michael Neser, Mitch Starc and Nathan Lyon.
“Scott Boland rested – he bowled the ball brilliantly. There was some chatter about how they might give him a break before Melbourne.
“I’m sure Scott Boland doesn’t want a break but based on how Michael Neser bowled here – I know it was a very horse for course selection, and maybe they might just stick with Scott Boland, but you still don’t know whether Pat Cummins is going to play all three (remaining Tests).
“Everything so far Pat Cummins has said, he has stuck to it. He didn’t play the last Test because we were told he’d play in Adelaide. But he also did say it’s unlikely he’ll play back-to-back Tests.
“If Pat is going to play Adelaide and Sydney, in my book, it makes sense to give Boland a break, bring Pat Cummins in for him, and have Boland ready for Melbourne to come into place for Cummins.”
Despite the potential for alternate changes, Tom Morris could only agree with Bharat, citing his XI as the ideal lineup for the Adelaide Test.
“I can’t disagree with you, I think that XI is bang on,” Morris added.
“The XI that you’ve said, with Green at five, Inglis at six, Carey at seven, and the bowlers being Cummins, Neser, Starc and Lyon – I’m with you.
“My view is, that is the best XI to play in Adelaide, and it’s a seriously long batting order.”
The Adelaide Test kicks off on the 17th of December.
