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Whateley: The two changes Australia should make for Adelaide Test
Jaiden Sciberras • December 8th, 2025 4:39 pm
Australia’s selectors nailed their squad for the pink-ball set-up, yet the selection dilemma is only set to deepen ahead of the third Ashes Test.
Heading to Adelaide with a 2-0 advantage over England, the Aussies are set for the return of captain Pat Cummins, who only just missed out on selection at the Gabba after recovering well from his ongoing back concerns.
While it’s safe to say that opener Usman Khawaja and pace-bowler Josh Hazlewood will remain out of the picture for the upcoming Test, chief selector George Bailey has a significant task on his hands, particularly concerning Australia's bowling attack.
Michael Neser’s selection was well and truly justified, securing five wickets and causing major headaches in England’s second innings.
However, Neser’s place in the side came at the expense of Nathan Lyon, who happens to have taken the most wickets at Adelaide Oval in Test history.
And with an incredibly short turnaround between the Adelaide Test and the Boxing Day Test, one could only imagine that selectors might consider resting the likes of Scott Boland, or potentially, Mitchell Starc.
Beyond the pace unit, Australia’s top order could also be subject to a shakeup. While Travis Head’s stint as an opener should remain in place, Josh Inglis’ inclusion at seven wasn’t overly convincing, while Cameron Green’s disappointing dismissal could raise questions at number five.
So, with Cummins and Lyon expected to return, questions surrounding the middle order and a fast turnaround before the Boxing Day Test, what changes are in store for the third Ashes Test?
If Gerard Whateley had to wager a guess, only a pair of replacements should be expected.
“They’re doing a good job with what their overall plan is,” Whateley told SEN Mornings.
“I have a suspicion that the plan was to rest Boland for Adelaide, to have him right for Melbourne, because he wouldn’t play those two tests back-to-back. Cummins into (Brendan) Doggett is natural, and then Lyon returns for one other.
“If I was having a guess, and it’s only a guess, I would guess that Neser would play Adelaide, and that Boland would play Melbourne. They picked the right horse for the right course in Neser in Brisbane, and Boland is the right horse for Melbourne, but it’s a tight turnaround there, and I don’t think they would expose Boland to that.
“I suspect that they have a really good plan in the background, which they might share in hindsight. If I was having a guess, I would say that that’s what will happen.”
Given the scrutiny the selectors have faced over the two Tests thus far, Whateley believes that now, having been proven correct courtesy of a dominant result, the selectors deserve to be trusted for any call they opt into.
“I really like the way they’re picking their teams in recent times – picking it for this matchup, for this contest, and if it means that Nathan Lyon has to sit out, where traditionally he never would have sat out of these games, we’re going to be bold enough to honour what we think is right,” Whateley said.
“We all second guess them; we all doubt them; they are absolutely validated in what they do. I think they are entitled to be trusted with the way they line it up in Adelaide.”
Whateley's suggested squad:
- T.Head
- J,Weatherald
- M.Labuschagne
- S.Smith
- C.Green
- A.Carey
- J.Inglis
- M.Neser
- P.Cummins
- M.Starc
- N.Lyon
The Adelaide Test commences on the 17th of December at 10am local time.
