Doggett misses out, Boland retained in Australian XI for Adelaide as Cummins returns

Jarred Cross Published December 16, 2025 at 11.05am (AWST)

sport

Doggett has made way for returning skipper Pat Cummins in Australia's pace attack. Image: Dave Hunt (AAP).

Worimi quick Brendan Doggett has made way for returning skipper Pat Cummins in Australia's XI for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, following a historic start to the summer.

Doggett, who took seven wickets across two tests, including five on debut in Perth, has fallen out of the side alongside Brisbane incomer Michael Neser, with veteran spinner Nathan Lyon recalled.

Gulidjan quick Scott Boland has retained his spot in the home side's bowling unit as expected.

Doggett's spot appeared on the line with the potential earlier return of Cummins - stand-in skipper Steve Smith confirming no decisions on the complete line up had been made a day out from the opening ball in Brisbane when he fronted a pre-match press conference.

After a solid debut, becoming just the third First Nations man to play Test cricket, and fifth Indigenous player overall including Faith Thomas and Ash Gardner in the women's game, Doggett was less impactful at the Gabba with what appeared to be a tactical requirement to bowl short against England.

Pairing with Boland, the pair made it the first time two Indigenous Australians had featured alongside one another in a Test XI in Perth.

They combined with nine wickets to clinch an early series lead last month.

*Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland are two of three Indigenous men to play Test cricket for Australia. (Image: Mark Brake/Getty Images)*

Doggett took 2/137 after 5/79 to start the series.

In further selection news, Usman Khawaja has been left out of the side after injury, which also impacted his contributions in Perth, ruled him out of the second Test.

Travis Head and Jake Weatherald are set to remain Australia's opening pair, with selectors sticking with Josh Inglis in the lower middle order.

Boland returns for his third Test at the Adelaide Oval and first with the red ball with the fixture returning to an earlier timeslot.

In his first appearance in the baggy green at the ground in 2022, he dismantled the West Indies' top order with a three wicket maiden in his opening over with the pink ball.

Boland backed it up with 5/109 at the ground against India last summer.

England come into the third Test desperate to keep the series alive after back-to-back eight wicket losses.

The tourists made one change from Brisbane, with right armer Josh Tongue coming in for his seventh Test match replacing Gus Atkinson.

England chose against bringing in a specialist spinner, with Shoaib Bashir again missing out.