Ashes cricket: Australia strengthens batting line-up for fourth Test at cost of specialist spinner

Australia will not field a specialist spinner for the first time in over a decade with selectors opting to strengthen the batting for the fourth Ashes Test.

Australia will enter a Test without a specialist spinner for the first time in more than 11 years after youngster Todd Murphy was dropped for the fourth Test in Manchester.

Seeking to secure a first away Ashes series win in 22 years, the Aussies have recalled Cameron Green, pairing him for the first time in a Test XI with Mitch Marsh, who made a century and took two wickets replacing the injured Green in the third Test at Headingley.

With the under-fire David Warner holding his spot at the top of the order, Australia’s choice to field both Marsh and Green in the same side has come at the expense of off-spinner Murphy, who bowled just 9.3 overs on Ashes debut at Leeds, where he had come in as a straight swap for the injured Nathan Lyon.

(L-R) Todd Murphy and Australia captain Pat Cummins speak during a nets session at Emirates Old Trafford. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has made one other change from the team that lost the third Test, with Josh Hazlewood back for Scott Boland.

Green is listed to bat at No. 7, one spot below Marsh. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who has a Test century to his name, is slated for No. 8.

The decision to omit Murphy is a landmark one for the Australian side, who last played a Test without a spinner against India at the WACA in January 2012, in the early stages of Lyon’s Test career.

Australia infamously left out Nathan Hauritz for the deciding fifth Test of the 2009 Ashes at The Oval, leaving spinning duties primarily to part-timer Marcus North, a decision that selectors would later concede was an error.

Mitchell Marsh has been retained after his third Test heroics. Picture: Getty Images

This time around Australia will instead have to rely on the offerings of Travis Head and to a lesser extent Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

Old Trafford is historically a venue that offers plenty for spinners. Most famously it was the scene of Shane Warne’s “ball of the century” with his first Ashes delivery 30 years ago.

England spinner Moeen Ali suggested Australia would be foolish not to pick a frontline tweaker given Old Trafford’s turning reputation.

But with England having not batted for more than 81.3 overs in an innings thus far in the series, and the fact the hosts will need to make the play given they are 2-1 down and rain is forecast on both Saturday and Sunday, the Aussies have decided to go pace-heavy.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM

1. David Warner

2. Usman Khawaja

3. Marnus Labuschagne

4. Steve Smith (vc)

5. Travis Head

6. Mitchell Marsh

7. Cameron Green

8. Alex Carey (wk)

9. Mitchell Starc

10. Pat Cummins (c)

11. Josh Hazlewood

Hazlewood ready for ashes return

Josh Hazlewood is primed for a return to the Australian side after being rested at Headingley, in place of Scott Boland.

Hazlewood, who has been plagued by injury in recent years, missed the World Test Championship final before playing the Ashes opener at Edgbaston and the second Test at Lord’s.

There was more than a week’s break between those Tests, but fronting up for both of the remaining rubbers in this series, with less than four days between the scheduled end of the fourth and fifth Tests, would be more of a challenge.

However Hazlewood said he was optimistic about being able to play both of the remaining Tests.

In addition to Boland, the Aussies also have the in-form Michael Neser waiting in the wings.

“Missing Headingley is probably the reason to set me up for the last two games. I know they’re back-to-back but we haven’t bowled a lot of overs,” Hazlewood said.

“Hopefully with that work behind me now, I’m in a better position than I was a month ago. That sort of puts me in a good place to hopefully get through those last two games and play my role and do what I usually do.”

Josh Hazlewood is ready to go after sitting out at Headingley. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Hazlewood said he felt primed to perform as the Aussies looked to clinch a first away Ashes series win in 22 years.

“Hugely excited. Obviously sat the last game out. I feel better for it. Having a rest and getting a bit of strength back in and getting ready for this game,” Hazlewood said.

“Fond memories of the last time here in 2019. Good to be back here and hopefully get a game.

“I felt pretty good to be honest. We haven’t bowled a lot of overs in terms of what Test matches usually look like for us. The way England play it gets us in the field for a little less in terms of workload.

“I felt pretty good going into the game. It was probably the right call now I can sit back and look at the big picture. I was desperate to play, which is obvious. But now it makes sense.

“I have again, felt pretty good. I was probably a little bit underdone for that World Test Championship and then got ready for the first game. I didn’t seem too rusty when I was out there in the middle. Once you get that big day of workload underneath you, you feel a lot better for the run. I felt better and better as I was going along. Hopefully after that little break, I’ll coming out firing again.”

While Todd Murphy’s position has also been questioned after he bowled less than 10 overs in Leeds, counterpart Moeen Ali said Australia would be silly not to pick a spinner on a dry-looking wicket.

“You have to play a spinner in a Test match no matter where it is in my opinion, but Old Trafford especially. I think the way they used him – it was a difficult one, I think the chase was a difficult one because we would have preferred facing a spinner and you were missing Nathan Lyon who has been a massive part of the team, and does an amazing job for them.

England backs in under-fire Anderson

Moeen Ali has declared Jimmy Anderson is still England’s best bowler after the hosts recalled the veteran seamer in a bid to keep the Ashes alive.

Anderson, who turns 41 later this month, is England’s sole inclusion for the fourth Test, replacing Ollie Robinson.

Moeen will continue to bat at No. 3, as he did in the second innings of the third Test at Headingley.

Anderson, who has an end named after him at Old Trafford, has 688 Test wickets but took just three at an average of more than 75 across the first two Tests of the series before being rested for the third rubber.

Anderson has struggled in the two Tests he has played in the Ashes. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

In his absence, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Stuart Broad fired England to a three-wicket victory.

But Moeen said Anderson remained a major threat.

“He’s still the best bowler we have and we’ve had over the years,” Moeen said.

“Him and Broady have been outstanding. Even in the first two games he played, I actually thought he bowled really well in both of them. When people say he doesn’t bowl well, he doesn’t go for many runs.

“I think he’s been a bit unfortunate with catches and other things probably not going his way. But there’s no doubt England are a better team with James Anderson in.”

ENGLAND TEAM

1. Ben Duckett

2. Zak Crawley

3. Moeen Ali

4. Joe Root

5. Harry Brook

6. Ben Stokes *

7. Jonathan Bairstow +

8. Chris Woakes

9. Mark Wood

10. Stuart Broad

11. James Anderson

Originally published as Ashes cricket: Australia strengthens batting line-up for fourth Test at cost of specialist spinner