Ashes cricket 2023: Australia fifth Test team selection, Todd Murphy, Josh Hazlewood, Michael Neser

Australia looks certain to make big changes to their XI for the final Test at the Oval as they look to win the Ashes on England soil.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 25: Todd Murphy of Australia looks on during the Australia Nets Session at The Kia Oval on July 25, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Pat Cummins hinted that Michael Neser would again miss out but spinner Todd Murphy is poised to return to Australia’s XI for the last Ashes Test.

Mitchell Marsh trained strongly on match eve, and along with Mitchell Starc is expected to be available for the fifth Test.

Australian captain Cummins was unwilling to guarantee a recall for Murphy who was controversially left out of the Old Trafford Test, but it’s understood the Victorian off-spinner is likely to be piloted straight back into the attack, possibly at the expense of Cameron Green.

Neser had been jostling with Josh Hazlewood for one spot. The Queenslander - yet to play an away Ashes Test in two tours - has made multiple hundreds in English county cricket this season and would more than compensate for the loss of Green’s run-scoring and keep Australia’s batting order long.

Michael Neser (c) looks set to miss out again. Picture: Getty Images

However Cummins suggested that Neser shaped as unlucky once more.

“It’s part of the conversation. I’m a big fan of Nes as well. He’s one of our favourites. It’s tough. You can only fit 11 players into a team. There’s nothing more he can do. He’s scored heaps of runs and taken heaps of wickets so we know his class and he’s just really unlucky,” Cummins said.

“He’s been part of the conversation. When you build out an Ashes squad you expect some injuries. We haven’t really had that in the fast bowling department so that’s probably worked against him. But we love Nes. We love what he brings to the team.

Hopefully there’s plenty more games for him in the baggy green.”

Marsh (soreness) and Starc (shoulder) both spent time off the field during the fourth Test in Manchester, but Cummins said both were likely to be ready for the match and that all-rounder Marsh should be able to bowl.

Australia’s Cameron Green (L) looms as the most likely to drop out, after Mitchell Marsh’s dynamic performances this series. Picture: Getty

Cummins said Green - who trained on match eve - shaped as a victim of Marsh’s excellence since returning for the third Test.

“The biggest difference is someone like Marsh has been given a chance through injury and has been brilliant. That’s probably been the biggest difference. I think when we come back here to The Oval, he bowled brilliantly here in the World Test Championship, and since then, the way the series has gone, and missing a Test through injury, it’s been more stop-start in terms of him being used bowling bouncers at times, sometimes the innings has been short so he hasn’t bowled too much. He probably hasn’t bowled as much as we thought,” Cummins said.

“In terms of batting, there’s been little snippets where he’s looked really good, then other times when he hasn’t managed to get through that initial phase. He’s still young, most of our team are basically into their 30s, he’s the only one from last game who is still starting out. He’s played 20-odd Tests now. Like any batter you’d think his best years are ahead of him. He’s doing all his learning in international cricket, it’s not easy.”

LIKELY AUSTRALIAN TEAM

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Todd Murphy, Josh Hazlewood

CONFIRMED ENGLAND TEAM

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Woakes (unchanged)