Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins out for the series as Andrew McDonald remains coy on bowling group for fourth Test

Andrew McDonald has confirmed that spinner Nathan Lyon will be set for a long stint on the sidelines, having undergone surgery on Tuesday on his hamstring.

However, the Australian coach was not willing to let slip how or if the team will play a spinner on the wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Boxing Day Test.

Lyon's availability for the final Ashes series was all but off the cards for Australia after he was forced off the field, suffering a hamstring injury while fielding a ball in Adelaide.

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It was a heartbreaking moment for the 38-year-old who had been ruled out of the 2023 Ashes series in similar fashion, only then it was a right calf injury.

McDonald admitted the specialist spinner was "shattered" to learn his fate after scans, but that will not keep him away from the team environment for the rest of the series.

After a short overnight stay in hospital on Tuesday, Lyon is expected to return to the team environment and help with the upcoming Test match.

McDonald could not give an exact time line for his return, yet he did admit that all he knows is it will "be a pretty long" recovery period for the veteran spinner.

Todd Murphy has been named to replace Lyon in Melbourne, having widely been considered as his long-term successor in the Australian team.

The 25-year-old has not played in the Australian team since February, with McDonald revealing that his absence was partially due to him carrying a shoulder injury.

"He had a couple of years where he, by his own admission, wasn't performing to his best, but he was also carrying a shoulder injury that wasn't really declared," McDonald said.

"The shoulder injury that he has had has limited him to some degree. There is always judgement on how people are performing.

"We feel as though Todd is back to his best. His journey has been a great one. He has experience under his belt and has faced this opponent albeit in 2023 and he held his own there."

McDonald remained coy on whether Australia will play a spinner for the Boxing Day Test, admitting he had viewed the wicket prior to speaking to media on Tuesday afternoon.

"If we were to play a spinner, you will see how we use him and it might make a bit of sense," he said.

The one thing he was not afraid to hide was his expectations for the batting group.

Steve Smith will return for the Boxing Day Test, meaning the batting order will once again be reshuffled. It remains unknown where Usman Khawaja will now fit in the order.

McDonald admitted he was still in favour of Jake Weatherald and Travis Head opening the batting, while Alex Carey's recent form should see him remain at six.

The 44-year-old then turn attention to captain Pat Cummins, confirming that while he pulled up fine after the third Test match but will play no further part in the series.

McDonald noted that the decision had been discussed a long time before the final call was made, noting the risks that come with fielding a injured player as reason for it.

"We were taking on some risk. We've now won the series, and that was the goal," McDonald said.

"To position him at further risk and jeopardise him long term, we don't want to do that."

Looking to the T20 World Cup, McDonald could not confirm Cummins' availability.

"That will be an assessment," he continued.

"I am assuming he will have a check in scan and gather more information before the World Cup. Whether he will be there or not, it is a bit grey. We are hopeful."

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