Australia lock in all-pace attack for 'quite green' MCG pitch

Jhye Richardson could make his first Test appearance in four years with Australia locking in an all-pace attack for Boxing Day, on an MCG pitch described by Steven Smith as "quite furry, quite green", while Usman Khawaja has retained his spot after being a last-minute replacement in Adelaide.

Australia will wait until the morning of the game to make the final call on the composition of quicks. It will come down to two from Richardson, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett, with offspinner Todd Murphy being omitted from the trimmed-down 12-man squad named by Smith, who also returns from illness, on Christmas Day. Josh Inglis has also been left out from the side that played in Adelaide.

It means for the second time in the series - and third time in their last five Tests - Australia won't have a specialist spinner on a surface that still had 10mm of grass the day before the game, with the match also set to start under cool, cloudy conditions.

"I dare say it's going to offer quite a bit," Smith, captaining again in place of Pat Cummins, 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."

Smith added that even if Nathan Lyon, who injured his hamstring in Adelaide, had been available, there would still have been a discussion about not playing a 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."

If Richardson plays, it will be his first Test since the 2021-22 Ashes. He was part of the squad a year ago for the corresponding match against India but shortly after that opted for shoulder surgery to correct a long-standing problem. In recent weeks, he has increased his workload across Cricket Australia XI and Australia A fixtures against England Lions and it was confirmed he wouldn't be under any workload restrictions if selected.

"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 around the group for a couple of weeks now getting his loads up and he's in a good spot."

Meanwhile, Khawaja will bat at No. 5 as Australia continue with the Jake Weatherald-Travis Head opening combination, but Cameron Green has been demoted to No. 7 below the in-form Alex Carey as he endures a difficult series with the bat and could be playing for his place. It means that Inglis loses his place after not being able to convert the starts he made in Brisbane and Adelaide.

There was some thought Green could be squeezed out by Beau Webster but the selectors have shown faith in Green, who caused Smith a few problems in the nets.

"He's bowling nicely," Smith said. "Obviously picked up a key wicket in the last game with Harry Brook with a nice ball. Gave me a couple of those yesterday, actually. They were pretty similar.

"I think in terms of his batting, he probably hasn't got the output that he's wanted so far. He's had a couple of really good starts where he's looked nice and comfortable at the crease. It's about just making those starts and turning them into bigger scores.

"We've seen how talented he is [and] seen what he can do in the game with bat, ball and in the field. He saves a truckload of runs at gully there with balls that no one else is going to stop. Hopefully he can make some runs this week."

Australia have made frequent changes through the series - some forced by injury, others tactical such as playing all-pace attacks - and have so far made the right call at every turn.

"I think everyone who's come in has done a great job," Smith said. "And I think the beauty of this series so far, it hasn't just been one or two players, it's been a whole group of players standing up at different times and taking on the responsibility.

"I think individuals, Starcy's been magnificent leading the attack in all three games. Alex Carey behind the stumps and with the bat, outstanding. Travis Head, outstanding. It's not about one or two individuals just standing up all the time, it's everyone chipping in at stages. I think we've been able to do that in the big moments.

"Our fielding has been outstanding as well. Some of the catches we've taken have really been able to turn the game and could have been the difference between the two sides of the stage."