Scott Boland retains spot with Josh Hazlewood not ready to return

Australia
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Usman Khawaja replaces Travis Head as the one change for Australia at the SCG

Hazlewood, who misses out on his home ground, has not quite recovered from the side strain he picked up at the Gabba and will now target a comeback in the final Test in Hobart.

Australia are also continuing to manage Richardson who reported some leg soreness after the Adelaide Test which kept him out of Melbourne.

Pat Cummins confirmed Hazlewood would have played if fit but any difficult conversation with Boland has been delayed by at least a week after his stunning 6 for 7 secured the Ashes at the MCG.

It is the first time in the series that Australia have named an unchanged attack from one match to the next having cycled through six fast bowlers in the first three games due to Covid and injury issues. Michael Neser has not been able to earn a second cap after his debut in Adelaide.

The only change for Australia is Usman Khawaja replacing Travis Head who was ruled out of the match after testing positive for Covid-19. It will be Khawaja’s first Test since he was dropped midway through the 2019 Ashes, but it is likely to be one-off comeback with Head set to return for the final Test.

Cummins also said there was never a realistic chance of legspinner Mitchell Swepson making a debut adding that currently he did not see any conditions around Australia that would warrant two spinners.

Australia XI 1 David Warner, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Usman Khawaja, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland

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