Steven Smith is back in charge, Nathan Lyon is still nursing a hamstring, and Australia look ready to go without a specialist spinner for Boxing Day after naming a 12-man squad heavy on quicks and light on tweakers.
Key facts first
• Todd Murphy left out of the trimmed squad
• Choice of two from Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett to partner the regulars
• Usman Khawaja keeps his spot at the top after his late call-up in Adelaide
• Final XI to be confirmed on the morning of the match
The surface
Smith walked the length of the MCG square on Christmas Day and described what he saw as “quite furry, quite green”. Grounds staff had left roughly 10mm of grass on the strip and, with cool, overcast weather forecast, the ball is expected to nip around.
“I dare say it’s going to offer quite a bit,” Smith said. “Particularly, I think tomorrow’s similar conditions to today, quite cold and overcast. I dare say there’s going to be quite a bit of movement in that surface.”
Why no spinner?
“I think a lot of the wickets we’re playing on at present are certainly more seam-friendly than spin-friendly,” he said. “Last week [in Adelaide] was an anomaly. We saw some rough and we saw Nathan come in to play big-time last week. It’s a tricky one. You’ve just got to play what surface you’re presented with.
“This one out here looks like it’s going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers. The weather throughout the week looks conducive for that, too. I think 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. He’s played some games for Australia and done really well. It’s great to see him here this week. I’m sure he’s going to be a pretty good chance to play next week in Sydney.”
The pace contenders
Richardson, Neser and Doggett all bowled lengthy spells for Australia A or Cricket Australia XI earlier this month, keeping their workloads high enough to slot straight in. Richardson, 29, has not played a Test since the 2021-22 Ashes, opting for shoulder surgery last year to deal with a persistent problem. If picked, it will be his third Boxing Day in the squad but only his first appearance.
“He’s just got a great set of skills,” Smith said. “Swings the ball both ways, seams it, accurate. [He’s] a bit more skiddy than some of the others, he’s a little bit shorter, bowls decent pace. We’ve seen that when he’s had the opportunity at this level, he’s been outstanding. If he gets his opportunity tomorrow, I’m sure he’ll be extremely excited.
“It’s been a long lay-off for him and he’s done all the work to get back. He’s been…” Smith drifted off, perhaps mindful of naming the side too early, but the intent was clear: Richardson is physically ready and, in the captain’s mind, tactically appealing on this wicket.
Khawaja holds his place
Khawaja’s late inclusion in Adelaide, when illness ruled Smith out, was rewarded with a composed 70 that steadied Australia’s first innings. There were whispers he might slide out again once Smith recovered, yet the selectors have stuck with the extra batting experience.
Bench decisions
Josh Inglis, a late call-up last week, drops out now that the squad is back to its usual size. Murphy will run drinks unless the morning conditions flip unexpectedly.
Strategic view
Going without a spinner for the second time in three matches feels bold, but recent evidence supports it. In Perth, four quicks plus Cameron Green did the job; Adelaide was the outlier because of Lyon’s rough outside the left-hander’s off stump. The MCG, still damp after a mild December, rarely crumbles to dust by day four.
Former Australia quick Dirk Nannes, speaking on ABC radio, noted that modern Test teams “probably over-index on variety”, adding that “two types of swing and a tall seamer can be plenty when the grass is up”. Smith, it seems, agrees.
What next?
The forecast remains mid-teens and cloudy for most of the match, especially the first two mornings. If the surface does as much as Smith expects, Australia’s attack could again be four right-arm quicks with Green as the change-up. England, meanwhile, have already hinted at playing both spinners, which would set up a neat contrast in styles and, possibly, a decisive toss.
Either way, Boxing Day will begin with Australia’s seamers feeling they have conditions on their side, and Murphy – so impressive in India earlier this year – likely watching on, waiting for Sydney and a pitch more suited to his craft.
