Australia are set to go into a Test match without a specialist spinner for the first time in more than a decade after Todd Murphy was dropped for the Fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
All-rounder Cameron Green is back in the side after missing the Third Test with a minor hamstring injury, but Mitchell Marsh also keeps his spot having scored a century in his place at Headingley. Josh Hazlewood returns in place of Scott Boland in the only other change to the XI as the tourists plump for an all-seam attack.
Murphy made his Ashes debut in Leeds having been called into the side in place of Nathan Lyon, who suffered a series-ending calf injury during what, ironically, had been his 100th consecutive Test in the previous match at Lord’s.
However, the 22-year-old was used sparingly by Pat Cummins, bowling only two overs in England’s successful fourth innings run chase.
Old Trafford is historically the English Test ground that offers most to spinners, but a wet weather forecast and the prospect of a shortened game mean Australia have decided to gamble on the option of Travis Head’s part-time offies.
Earlier on Tuesday, Australian captain Cummins had confirmed that David Warner would keep his place at the top of the order despite renewed scrutiny in the wake of two failures at Leeds.
Australia XI: Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Marsh, Green, Carey, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood.
