Name: Selection decisions for Australia ahead of Boxing Day Test
Uploaded: 2025-12-25T06:48:21.330Z
Duration: 1 min 42 s
Description: Australia has opted not to pick a frontline spinner for the Boxing Day Test, instead set to hit England with an all-pace attack. The selectors are yet to settle on a final XI, keeping Jhye Richardson’s Christmas wish for a Test return alive.

Australia has opted not to pick a frontline spinner for the Boxing Day Test, instead set to hit England with an all-pace attack. The selectors are yet to settle on a final XI, keeping Jhye Richardson’s Christmas wish for a Test return alive.

Melbourne

Australia is finalizing its lineup for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with selectors opting for a pace-heavy attack due to the green, seam-friendly pitch. Spinner Todd Murphy and Josh Inglis have been left out of the 12-man squad, while Usman Khawaja retains his place and Jai Richardson is in contention for a return after a four-year absence from Test cricket.

The pitch is expected to offer significant movement under cold and overcast conditions, influencing the decision to favor seam bowlers. If Murphy is omitted again in Sydney, Australia will have selected a specialist spinner only twice in five Tests this summer. The weather has improved for the match, allowing both teams to enjoy festive activities ahead of the game.

Selection decisions for Australia ahead of Boxing Day Test

One of Australia's most iconic sporting venues, today the most feared backyard cricket pitch in the country, before a family-style feast. Yeah I know Travis Head's looking forward to lunch and he gets stuck into the prawns, he'll have more than everyone I can assure you. Christmas may have come early for the Aussies with the series already won, but Boxing Day Test Eve is all about the big decisions, opting for pace over spin. Yeah 10mm of grass, quite furry, quite green so I dare say it's going to offer quite a bit, particularly I think tomorrow's similar conditions today, quite cold and overcast so I dare say there's going to be quite a bit of movement in that surface. They've narrowed it down to 12, spinner Todd Murphy left out, Josh Inglis too with Usman Khawaja keeping his spot. After a check of the wicket tomorrow they'll pick their 11, so West Aussie Jai Richardson could still get his Christmas wish. To end a four year drought between test matches. Yeah exciting to see Richardson obviously back into the fold, he's had a pretty long lay off with injury and we know the skills that he can possess, he's done it against England before in an Ashes. Melbourne's pitch punishing Todd Murphy, if he's also left out in Sydney, the Aussies will have picked a specialist spinner just twice in five tests this summer. I think a lot of the wickets we're playing on at present are certainly more seam friendly than spin friendly, last week was an anomaly. Despite chilly Christmas conditions the covers were off after forecast rain stayed away, the weather more accommodating to the visitors who had some festive fun too. Merry Christmas. Steph Baumgartel, 10 News.

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