sports
December 25, 2025
No room for Murphy as Australia opt for all-pace attack for Boxing Day Test
Victorian off-spinner won’t play at MCG after being called in for injured Nathan Lyon
TL;DR
- Australia has chosen a pace-heavy 12-man squad for the Boxing Day Test against England.
- Victorian off-spinner Todd Murphy was initially called up but is likely to be left out due to the MCG pitch having significant grass cover.
- Stand-in captain Steve Smith will confirm the playing XI at the toss.
- This decision means Australia will go without a spinner for the third time in their last five Tests.
- Usman Khawaja will bat at No. 5 to accommodate Steve Smith's return.
- Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett, and Michael Neser are included, with one of them set to miss out.
- England's Jofra Archer and Ollie Pope are out, with Jacob Bethell replacing Pope.
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