Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith has confirmed that spinner Todd Murphy won’t play the Boxing Day clash at the MCG, with the hosts set to unleash an all-pace attack for the fourth Ashes Test against England.
The Australians will take a final look at the pitch on Friday morning before deciding on who makes the final starting XI, with Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett and comeback quick Jhye Richardson seemingly fighting over the final two spots.
“We will have a look at the wicket and see how we best want to manage our options with the attack,” Smith said.
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Reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis slips out of the side to accommodate the return of Smith, who missed last week’s Adelaide Test due to illness, while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon are unavailable due to injury.
Smith also confirmed that Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey would bat at No. 5 and No. 6 respectively, with out-of-form all-rounder Cameron Green slipping down the No. 7.
The West Australian batted at No. 3 during June’s World Test Championship final and the Frank Worrell Trophy campaign in the West Indies, but he has averaged 22.00 with the bat since his return from back surgery.
The injury-prone Richardson, meanwhile, could end a four-year drought between Test appearances this week, with his most recent appearance in the Test side coming back in December 2021.
The fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at the MCG on Friday at 10.30am AEDT.
Australian XII for Boxing Day Ashes Test
Steve Smith (c), Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett
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