🏏 Australia's All-Pace Gamble on Green MCG for Ashes Thriller

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Key Takeaways

1📊 All-pace attack, no Todd Murphy on green MCG
2🏆 Day 1: Aus 152, Eng 110, 18 wickets fall
3💡 3rd no-spinner in 5 Tests, quicks econ 2.9
4🔮 Richardson/Neser/Doggett final spot Day 2
5💬 'Furry, green' pitch perfect for seam - Smith

"Murphy omitted from the trimmed-down 12-man squad named by Smith, who returns from illness"

Australia commit to an all-pace attack for the Boxing Day Ashes Test at MCG, benching spinner Todd Murphy on a 'quite green' pitch. Steven Smith names 12-man squad with Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser, or Brendan Doggett vying for final spot alongside Usman Khawaja's retention. Josh Inglis axed, this mirrors Adelaide's seam dominance in a series already electric with Day 1's 18 wickets.

Pitch intel from Smith—returning from illness—flags seam-friendly traits: 10m grass pre-game. Australia's last five Tests thrice skipped spinners successfully, averaging 4.2 wickets per innings from quicks. Khawaja's last-minute Adelaide sub solidified openers, stats: 2025 avg 52.3.

Green Pitch Tactics: History Repeating?

MCG's 'furry' surface evokes 1975 when Lillee snared 7/97 vs England. Richardson's potential debut: 145kph pace, Shield 15 wkts @2.8 econ. Day 1: Aus 152, Eng 110—quicks claimed 16 scalps. No spinner third time in five Tests, economy 2.9 vs spin's 3.8 historically.

WTC Points and Series Stakes Soar

All-pace bet eyes Ashes clean sweep, WTC final spot. Cummins absence tests rotation policy, like 2023 India's vs Aus. England's bowling exposed, implications for Ben Stokes' attack.