Australia’s bold call to leave spinner out for MCG Test
Oliver Caffrey |
Australia will go into the Boxing Day Test without a spinner after picking a 12-man, pace-heavy squad to tackle demoralised England.
After Nathan Lyon suffered a long-term hamstring injury in the Ashes-clinching win in Adelaide, Victorian offspinner Todd Murphy was called into the squad.
But with the MCG pitch having up to 10mm of grass, Australia have opted to leave Murphy out in a bold and historic decision.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith, who returns following a battle with vertigo symptoms, will hold off until the toss on Friday before confirming a XI.
It will be the third time in Australia’s last five Tests they have not picked a spinner.
Lyon wasn’t selected for the day-night Test in Jamaica in July, as well as in Brisbane.
But it is a gamble for an Australian team not to select a spinner at the MCG, a place where the legendary Shane Warne and Lyon have had success.
“A lot of the wickets we’re playing on at present are certainly more seam friendly than spin friendly,” Smith said on Thursday.
“Last week (in Adelaide) was an anomaly; we saw some rough and we saw Nathan come in to play big time.
“It’s a tricky one.
“You’ve just got to play what surface you’re presented with, and this one out here looks like it’s going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers.
“If Nathan was here, we’d probably still be having the same conversation as well.
“It’s certainly nothing to do with Todd’s skill, we know he’s a quality bowler.”
Joining Lyon and captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines is Josh Inglis, with quicks Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser included.
One of the included three will miss out on playing.
Luckless allrounder Beau Webster was an option to replace struggling Cameron Green due to his ability to bowl medium pace and spin.
But selectors are sticking with Green, who will slide down to bat at No.7 after wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s player-of-the-match 106 and 72 at the Adelaide Oval.
Veteran Usman Khawaja, who turned 39 last week, was preferred to Inglis after making 82 and 40 in the third Test in Adelaide.
Khawaja will shuffle down to No.5 to accommodate Smith, with his opening days behind him because of the successful start to Travis Head and Jake Weatherald’s partnership at the top.
Richardson is in contention to play his first Test in more than four years after a torturous run with injury.
The 29-year-old has impressed when playing for Australia in all three formats, including three Tests.
“He’s just got a great set of skills,” Smith said.
“Swings the ball both ways.
“Seams it, accurate, a bit more skiddy than some of the others.
“When he’s had the opportunity at this level, he’s been outstanding.”
Doggett and Neser played in the second Test in Brisbane, but made way in Adelaide when Cummins and Lyon returned.
After retaining the Ashes in only 11 days, Australia will look to continue England’s tour of misery by completing a 5-0 whitewash for the first time since 2013-14.
Jofra Archer, a rare highlight for England during this series, will miss the Melbourne and Sydney Tests with a side strain.
It means Smith and Archer’s fiery confrontation in the dying stages of the Gabba Test could be the last time the foes face each other at international level.
Out-of-form England No.3 Ollie Pope has been dropped, replaced by promising youngster Jacob Bethell.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.
AAP
