Australia will field an all-pace attack for the fourth Ashes Test, skipper Steve Smith confirmed on Thursday. Josh Inglis was dropped in favor of Usman Khawaja.
The hosts enter the fourth Ashes Test with a 3-0 lead over England but will be without key players Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. Cummins is being managed after a back injury and will play no further part in the series. Lyon, recovering from hamstring surgery, faces a long rehabilitation period.
Todd Murphy was called up as cover for Lyon, but Smith explained the conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground favored a pace-heavy strategy. “We’re going to be playing four quicks and no spinner. The pitch has 10 millimeters of grass, quite furry and green,” he said. Smith added the overcast and cold conditions could assist seam bowlers throughout the week.
Australia named a 12-man squad for the fourth Ashes Test, with the final choice of who leads the attack alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland to be decided at the toss. Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, or Brendan Doggett will miss out. Richardson returns to the squad after three shoulder surgeries and his first selection in four years.
Steve Smith, who missed the third Test due to vertigo symptoms, will return at number four. Khawaja moves down to number five behind Alex Carey and Cameron Green. Smith said he feels “100 percent” fit and ready to play.
The full squad for the fourth Ashes Test is: 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.
With this lineup, Australia aims to exploit the pace-friendly conditions at the MCG and maintain their dominant position in the series ahead of the final Test.
In other news read more about: Babar Azam returns to the top three of the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings.
