Australia Confirm All-Pace Lineup for ‘Rather Green’ MCG Pitch
Jhye Richardson may be set to make his first Test appearance in four years, as Australia confirms an all-pace lineup for Boxing Day on an MCG pitch characterized by Steven Smith as “rather furry, rather green.” Usman Khawaja maintains his position after stepping in as a last-minute substitute in Adelaide. Australia will finalize their choice of fast bowlers on the morning of the match. The decision will be down to two from Richardson, Michael Neser, and Brendan Doggett, with offspinner Todd Murphy left out from the 12-man squad announced by Smith, who is also returning from an illness, on Christmas Day. Josh Inglis has also been excluded from the team that competed in Adelaide. This means, for the second time in this series—and the third time in their last five Tests—Australia will not feature a specialist spinner on a surface that still had 10mm of grass the day prior to the match, which is also set to commence under cool, overcast conditions. “I dare say it’s going to offer quite a bit,” Smith said, stepping in as captain for Pat Cummins. “Particularly, I think tomorrow’s similar conditions to today—quite cold and drizzly. I dare say there’s going to be a significant amount of movement from that surface.”
Smith remarked that even if Nathan Lyon, who strained his hamstring in Adelaide, had been available, there would still have been discussions about the decision to not field a spinner. “I believe a lot of the wickets we are playing on currently are distinctly more seam-friendly than spin-friendly,” he explained. “Last week (in Adelaide) was an exception. We encountered some rough patches, and we saw Nathan make a significant impact last week. It’s a challenging situation; you simply have to adapt to the surface you encounter. Todd Murphy will have to sit this one out •Getty Images.”This pitch appears to provide substantial assistance for seam bowlers. The weather over the coming week seems conducive for that as well. I think if Nathan were present, we would likely still be having the same discussions.” It’s certainly not an issue related to Todd’s capabilities; we recognize he’s a skilled bowler. He has represented Australia and performed admirably. It’s wonderful to have him here this week. I’m sure he’ll have a good shot at playing next week in Sydney.
If Richardson gets the nod, it will mark his first Test since the 2021-22 Ashes series. He was part of the squad a year ago for the equivalent match against India but opted for shoulder surgery shortly afterward to address a chronic issue. Recently, he has ramped up his workload in fixtures for the Cricket Australia XI and Australia A against England Lions, and it has been confirmed that he will not face any workload restrictions if selected. “He possesses an excellent skill set,” Smith noted. “He swings the ball in both directions, seams it well, and is quite accurate. (He’s) a bit quicker than some of the others, he’s a little shorter, but bowls at good pace. We’ve seen that when he’s had opportunities at this level, he’s excelled. If he gets his chance tomorrow, I’m sure he’ll be very thrilled.
It’s been a lengthy absence for him, and he has put in the effort to make a comeback. He’s been with the group for a couple of weeks now, elevating his training, and he’s in a favorable position.” Meanwhile, Khawaja will bat at No. 5 as Australia maintains the Jake Weatherald-Travis Head opening combination, but Cameron Green has been moved down to No. 7 below the form-driven Alex Carey as he goes through a challenging series with the bat, possibly putting his place at risk. This implies that Inglis loses his spot after failing to capitalize on the starts he made in Brisbane and Adelaide. There was some speculation that Green could be replaced by Beau Webster, but the selectors have shown confidence in Green, who has posed some challenges for Smith during practice. Cameron Green has struggled with batting in this series •AFP/Getty Images.
“He’s bowling well,” Smith stated. “Clearly took a significant wicket in the last match with Harry Brook thanks to a solid delivery. He delivered a couple of those to me yesterday, actually. They were quite alike. In terms of his batting, he probably hasn’t achieved the results he desired thus far. He’s had a couple of excellent starts where he appeared comfortable at the crease. It’s about converting those beginnings into larger scores. We’ve recognized how talented he is (and) observed what he can do with bat, ball, and in the field. He saves a significant number of runs in the gully with deliveries that others wouldn’t be able to stop. Hopefully, he can tally some runs this week.” Australia has frequently alternated players throughout the series—some changes induced by injuries, while others are strategic, like utilizing all-pace attacks—and they have thus far made the right decisions at every juncture. “I feel everyone who has entered has performed admirably,” Smith remarked. “And I think the highlight of this series has been that it hasn’t been merely one or two individuals; rather, it has been a collective effort from various players stepping up at different moments and embracing responsibility.
I think individuals, Starcy’s been magnificent in leading the attack across all three matches. Alex Carey behind the stumps and with the bat has been exceptional. Travis Head has performed great as well. It’s not merely about one or two individuals taking charge all the time; it’s about everyone contributing when required. I believe we’ve been able to achieve that during critical moments. Our fielding has been exemplary, too. Several catches we’ve taken have truly turned the match and could have been the deciding factor between the two sides at this point.”
Published: 2025-12-25 21:50:00
source: www.espncricinfo.com
