Australia has unveiled a bold tactical approach for the pivotal Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, opting to field an exclusive pace attack on a surface described by stand-in captain Steve Smith as “quite furry, quite green.” The selection strategy sees the omission of specialist spinner Todd Murphy from the 12-man squad, signaling a clear response to the pitch’s pronounced grassy covering, measured at 10mm.
The hosts will deploy four specialist seamers alongside all-rounder Cameron Green, with Michael Neser, Brendon Doggett, and Jhye Richardson competing for the two remaining bowling slots. This decision comes amid significant bowling injuries, with captain Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood both absent from the entire series, and primary spinner Nathan Lyon ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in Adelaide.
Smith returns to leadership duties after missing the previous Test due to illness, while Usman Khawaja retains his place following impressive performances of 82 and 40 in Adelaide, batting at number five with Green shifting to seventh position. The selection reflects Australia’s dominance in the series, having already secured the Ashes with a 3-0 lead while pursuing a historic 5-0 whitewash.
Meanwhile, England faces their own challenges, having named their XI with Jacob Bethell replacing Ollie Pope at number three and pace spearhead Jofra Archer officially ruled out of the series with a side strain. The absence of Archer potentially concludes one of Test cricket’s most compelling rivalries, given the history between him and Smith that included a concussion incident at Lord’s in 2019 and recent heated exchanges in Brisbane.
The match preparations included a unique Christmas Day atmosphere with players from both sides training simultaneously in nets, many England personnel wearing festive Santa hats as families gathered on the MCG outfield. However, England’s tour has been marred by controversy following reports of excessive drinking during their break in Noosa, with director of cricket Rob Key confirming an investigation into player behavior.
Smith expressed sympathy for England’s situation, noting that “when you’re losing, the spotlight is always on you” based on his own experience with intense public scrutiny following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Meteorological conditions appear favorable for Australia’s pace-heavy strategy, with Smith anticipating “quite a bit of movement” given forecasted cold and overcast conditions matching the pitch’s green complexion.