Australia to unleash all-pace attack at Boxing Day Test
The hosts have already won the five-match series after victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide and have decided not to include spinner Todd Murphy in their 12-man squad, after drafting him in to replace veteran Nathan Lyon.
New Delhi: Australia opted for a four-pacer bowling attack for the Boxing Day Test against England with Steve Smith returning to action after sitting out the third Ashes match with vertigo.
The hosts have already won the five-match series after victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide and have decided not to include spinner Todd Murphy in their 12-man squad, after drafting him in to replace veteran Nathan Lyon.
Seamer Jhye Richardson is back in the Test fold for the first time since 2021 after an impressive run of form in domestic cricket on his return from shoulder surgery.
After playing in the first-two Tests, Brendan Doggett gets a look-in again while Michael Neser has been included after being part of the pink-ball Test in Brisbane.
"You just got to play what surface you're presented with," Smith, who would lead the side as regular skipper Pat Cummins was rested said on Thursday.
"The pitch has 10mm of grass, quite furry, quite green. I dare say it's going to offer similar conditions to today, quite cold and overcast. So, there's going to be quite a bit of movement.
"This one looks like it's going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers and the weather throughout the week looks conducive for that too."
Second wind for Richardson
Left-arm pacer Richardson’s last appearance in red-ball format was against England in December 2011 in which he claimed five wickets in a 275-run win for Australia.
"It's exciting to see Richardson back into the fold. He's had a pretty long layoff with injury, and we know the skills he can possess," Smith said of the 29-year-old.
"He's done it against England before in an Ashes. We've seen when he's had the opportunity at this level, he's been outstanding."
Experienced batter Usman Khawaja was preferred over Josh Inglis after scores of 82 and 40 in Adelaide, having come in as a last minute replacement for Smith.
"(It was) fortunate that Usman was able to come in and play the way he did in that first innings,” Smit said.
"We all thought he played really nicely last week, he’s putting the pressure on when he needed to, and he absorbed it when he needed to.
"He’s got that No.5 spot right now. Cam (Cameron Green) with the way his whole package is set up helps us out at seven as well."
Australia XII for fourth Test:
Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson