Daijiworld Media Network - Melbourne
Melbourne, Dec 25: Australia will not replace injured offspinner Nathan Lyon with another specialist spinner for the fourth Ashes Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, opting instead for a pace-heavy 12-man squad as the match begins on Friday.
Lyon suffered a long-term hamstring injury during Australia’s Ashes-clinching win in Adelaide and later underwent surgery. Though offspinner Todd Murphy was called into the squad, Australia left him out after assessing the grass-covered MCG pitch, which is expected to favour seam bowlers. Captain Steve Smith said the final playing XI would be confirmed after the toss.
“It’s a tricky one. You’ve got to play what surface you’re presented with, and this one looks like it’s going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers,” Smith said, adding that most wickets in the series had been more seam-friendly.
Australia have already retained the Ashes after winning the first three Tests, achieving the feat in just 11 days of on-field action. It is rare for Australia to go without a spinner at the MCG, a venue where both Shane Warne and Lyon enjoyed major success.
Along with Lyon and regular skipper Pat Cummins, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is also sidelined. Fast bowlers Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser have been included, with Richardson in contention for his first Test appearance in over four years following a series of injuries.
Veteran opener Usman Khawaja retained his place after scores of 82 and 40 in the third Test. Doggett and Neser, who played in Brisbane, were left out in Adelaide when Cummins and Lyon returned.
England, meanwhile, named their team earlier this week, with the major setback being the loss of star pacer Jofra Archer for the remainder of the series, including the fifth and final Test starting January 4 in Sydney.
Australia squad: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.
England team: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue.