The Ashes: Australia omit spinner for Boxing Day Test on ‘grassy’ Melbourne pitch

Australia will not play a spinner in the Boxing Day Test on a Melbourne pitch stand-in captain Steve Smith described as “quite furry, quite green”.

The home side have named a 12-man squad for the fourth Ashes Test against England, starting on Friday (23:30 GMT Thursday).

The group includes only specialist pace bowlers, meaning off-spinner Todd Murphy misses out.

Smith, deputising as captain for Pat Cummins, said Australia will play four seamers, plus all-rounder Cameron Green. Michael Neser, Brendon Doggett and Jhye Richardson are vying for two places in the final XI.

Smith is returning after missing the third Test through illness. Usman Khawaja was initially left out of the third Test, then replaced Smith and made scores of 82 and 40 in Adelaide.

Khawaja is retained in Melbourne at the expense of Josh Inglis. Khawaja will bat at number five, with all-rounder Green dropping to seven.

The previous Ashes Test in Melbourne, in 2021, was over inside three days as England were bowled out for 185 and 68.

“I daresay it’s going to offer quite a bit,” said Smith in his Christmas Day news conference.

“Tomorrow looks similar conditions today – quite cold and overcast. There’s going to be quite a bit of movement in that surface.”

Smith said there is 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to the furry and green description.

Australia have already won the Ashes after moving 3-0 up in the first three Tests. The home side are now targeting a fourth 5-0 clean sweep, while England are looking to end an 18-match winless streak in this country.

Players from both sides trained side-by-side in the nets on Christmas morning, with many of the England players and staff in Father Christmas hats.

Families arrived to spend time on the Melbourne Cricket Ground outfield, before the squads left to celebrate.

Australia are once again without captain Cummins, as he continues to manage a back problem, while fellow pace bowler Josh Hazlewood has missed the entire series.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a series-ending hamstring injury in the third Test in Adelaide, meaning Murphy was called into the squad.

But the hosts will instead choose between Doggett, Neser and Richardson.