US EditionNo room for spin: Australia goes into the 4th Ashes with a pace-heavy attack against England
Australia omitted a specialist spinner for the pace-heavy squad at MCG due to grass on pitch favoring seamers, aiming to complete a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
- On Friday, Australia will enter the Ashes Test at the MCG with a 12-man, pace-heavy squad and will not replace injured Nathan Lyon with another spinner.
- With the MCG showing up to 10mm of grass, selectors judged the surface seam-friendly and left out a specialist spinner, viewing last week's Adelaide conditions as an anomaly.
- Australia's squad lists Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser, with Alex Carey, wicketkeeper's 106 and 72 prompting selectors to slide Cameron Green down the order.
- Stand-In captain Steve Smith will confirm his XI at the toss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, while England named its team on Wednesday without Jofra Archer for the rest of the series.
- It's unusual for Australia to omit a spinner at the MCG, where Shane Warne and Nathan Lyon had success, and this marks three recent occasions without a specialist spinner.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Ashes 2025-26: Australia Announce Playing XII for Boxing Day Test, Steve Smith Replaces Pat Cummins as Captain
Cricket Australia (CA) has named its playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test of the five-match series against England. The fourth match of the series will be a Boxing Day Test, starting on December 26 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ashes 2025-26: Australia Announce Playing XII for Boxing Day Test, Steve Smith Replaces Pat Cummins as Captain.
Associated Press News
No room for spin: Australia goes into the 4th Ashes with a pace-heavy attack against England
Australia won’t attempt to replace injured Nathan Lyon with another spin bowler for the fourth Ashes test against England and will go into Friday’s start of the Melbourne Cricket Ground match with a 12-man, pace-heavy squad.
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Furry and green’: The MCG Grinch that cruelled spinner’s Boxing Day hopes
Melbourne’s green MCG pitch is the Grinch that stole Boxing Day from Todd Murphy, while Cameron Green’s Test spot is on notice with a demotion to No.7.
Cricket: Australia opts for all-pace attack in fourth Ashes Test
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
