Melbourne, December 25, : Australia will field an all-pace bowling attack in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), skipper Steve Smith confirmed on Thursday, with Josh Inglis dropped from the side as selectors preferred Usman Khawaja.
The hosts head into the Boxing Day Test with an unassailable 3-0 lead over England but will be without pace spearhead Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. Cummins is being managed following his return in the third Test in Adelaide after a lengthy layoff due to a lower back injury and will play no further part in the Ashes. Lyon, meanwhile, underwent surgery this week for a torn hamstring and faces an extended recovery period.
Although off-spinner Todd Murphy was called up as cover for Lyon, Smith said the team management had opted for an all-pace attack due to the nature of the MCG pitch.
“We’re going to be playing four quicks and no spinner,” Smith said. “The pitch has 10 millimetres of grass, quite furry, quite green.”
“I dare say it’s going to offer quite a bit, particularly if day one is similar to today — quite cold and overcast — so there’s going to be plenty of movement. You’ve just got to play what surface you’re presented with,” he added.
Australia have named a 12-man squad, with a final decision on which quick will partner Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland to be made at the toss. One of Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, or Brendan Doggett will miss out. Doggett and Neser featured in the second Test in Brisbane but made way in Adelaide when Cummins and Lyon returned, while Richardson has been included in a Test squad for the first time in four years following three shoulder surgeries.
Smith, who missed the third Test due to vertigo symptoms, will return to the side at number four. Khawaja, who filled Smith’s role in Adelaide with scores of 82 and 40, will move down to number five, ahead of Alex Carey and Cameron Green, while Inglis has been left out.
Smith, who captained Australia in the first two Tests during Cummins’ absence, said he was fully recovered.
“I’m feeling 100 percent,” he said. “I was watching in the hotel those first two days in Adelaide and wished I could have been out there, but it was the right call at the time because I was struggling.”
Australia XII: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson
