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Australia will not field their spinner in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Stadium, captain Steve Smith described as “quite furry, quite green”.
The home team has named a 12-man squad for the fourth Ashes Test against England, starting on Friday (23:30 GMT Thursday).
The squad includes only specialist pace bowlers, meaning off-spinner Todd Murphy will be missing out.
Smith, who captains Pat Cummins, said Australia would field four seamers, as well as Cameron Green. Michael Nasser, Brendon Doggett and Jehi Richardson are competing for two places in the final lineup.
Smith returns after missing the third Test due to illness. Usman Khawaja was initially ruled out of the third Test, then replaced Smith and had scores of 82 and 40 in Adelaide.
Al Khawaja has been retained in Melbourne at the expense of Josh Inglis. Al Khawaja will finish fifth, with Green dropping to seventh.
The previous Ashes Test in Melbourne, in 2021, ended in three days with England bowled out on scores of 185 and 68.
“I dare say it will offer a lot,” Smith said in his Christmas Day press conference.
“Tomorrow conditions will look similar to today – very cold and overcast. There will be a lot of movement on this surface.”
Smith said there was 10mm of grass on the surface, leading to a furry and green description.
Australia have already won the Ashes after taking a 3-0 lead in the first three Tests. The home side are now targeting a fourth 5-0 win, while England look to end an 18-match winless run in this country.
Players from both sides trained side by side in the nets on Christmas morning, with many England players and staff wearing Christmas hats.
Families arrived to spend time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, before the teams left to celebrate.
Australia are once again without skipper Cummins, as he continues to manage a back problem, while fellow bowler Josh Hazlewood has missed the entire series.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a series-ending hamstring injury in the third Test in Adelaide, which meant Murphy was recalled to the squad.
But the hosts will instead choose between Doggett, Nesser and Richardson.
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