Ashes 2017/18: Fit Again Mitchell Starc Returns for Sydney Test

Australia is set to field their formidable three pace attack in the final Ashes Test, as Mitchell Starc has recovered just in time to play.

The left-arm fast-bowler, who is leading the wicket-taking chart in the series, will replace Jackson Bird in the Australia team after missing the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground due to a bruised heel.

Meanwhile, with Starc fit to play in Sydney, recalled left-arm spinner Ashton Agar will have to wait longer to play his first Test at home. The spinner did not get included in the squad for the first four Tests, but speculations were high that he would play in the final Test after being recalled since the Sydney track assist spinners.

Australia skipper Steven Smith said a good amount of grass on the track might have prompted the selectors to stick with the three-man pace attack and sole spinner Nathan Lyon.

“I think the wicket’s got a fair bit of grass and looks to be a pretty good wicket, so I’d say we’ll probably opt for just the one spinner,” Smith said on Wednesday (January 3).

Australia and Smith’s assessment of the pitch is completely different to that of England, and its skipper Joe Root’s. England has included uncapped leg-spinner, Mason Crane, to bolster their spin attack which will be spearheaded by Moeen Ali. Crane has replaced injured Chris Woakes in the playing eleven.

“I think once we got here and we saw the surface, that was a clear indication of what team we wanted to go with,” Root said.

“It (the SCG pitch) looks like it should give a bit of turn throughout, it generally does here anyway. It looks like it’s definitely dried out over the course of the last 24 hours and it should generally spin. That’s why we’ve gone in with the two spinners, and the leg-spinner, in particular, could be quite hard work especially later on in the game,” he added.

The fifth and final Ashes Test gets underway on January 4. The hosts had already sealed the series after winning the first three Tests before the fourth Test ended in a draw.

Here is the news-feed:

Australia Recall Chris Lynn for England ODIs; Glenn Maxwell Dropped

Ashes 2017/18: Injured Chris Woakes Out, Mason Crane to Debut in Sydney

IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings Retain MS Dhoni And Suresh Raina

Catch all the action from the Ashes here: The Ashes

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