KEY POINTS
- Australian captain Steve Smith says all team selection options remain open, pending a final wicket inspection.
- A high-visibility police presence, including officers with rifles, will be deployed at the SCG following December’s Bondi shooting.
- Cricket Australia will honour first responders and community heroes from the Bondi attack before the Test match.
SYDNEY: With the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) receiving an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating from the ICC, all eyes are now on the surface at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test, starting Sunday.
Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith confirmed that all strategic options, including fielding an all-pace attack or selecting a spinner, remain on the table as the team awaits a final inspection of the wicket.
Pitch scrutiny dominates buildup to the series Finale
The talk in the lead-up to the Sydney Test has been dominated by pitch conditions, following the controversial and short Melbourne Test where 36 wickets fell in two days. SCG chief curator Adam Lewis addressed concerns about the visibly green tinge on the pitch three days out, stating he was “really comfortable” with its progress and expecting the grass to recede with forecasted sunshine.
Despite this assurance, the memory of the MCG demerit point looms large. Smith emphasised a cautious approach, telling reporters, “I haven’t had a chance to look at the wicket this morning, so all options are on the table currently.”
Smith: No one locked in, all options open
With off-spinner Todd Murphy included in a squad of 15, Smith confirmed the final XI is yet to be decided. The selection debate hinges on whether to replicate Melbourne’s four-pronged pace attack or to include a specialist spinner on a traditionally spin-friendly SCG track.
“Could play a couple of all-rounders, could play a spinner, could play no spinner. We’ll figure it out once we see the surface,” Smith said. “No-one’s locked in yet. There’s 13 or 14 guys on the table.”
Captain backs under-fire all-rounder Green
While discussing team balance, Smith offered strong support for under-performing all-rounder Cameron Green. Despite averaging only 18.66 with the bat and taking three wickets in the series, Smith highlighted Green’s quality and potential.
“He’s a quality player, every time he goes back to shield cricket, he smashes it,” Smith said, acknowledging Green’s struggles to convert starts. “Regardless of what happens right now, we think he’s got a really bright future.”
Meanwhile, Australian police announced a bolstered and high-visibility security presence at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for the fifth Ashes Test starting Sunday. This follows heightened safety measures in the city after the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in December.
Increased security directly linked to recent attack
The decision to enhance police staffing comes weeks after a father-and-son gunman attack at a Hanukkah event in Bondi on December 14, which killed 15 people. The massacre, Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades, has led to more active policing across Sydney.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated the visible difference at the cricket ground would include officers carrying rifles and a stronger overall presence. “Our objective here is to help the public feel safe,” he said.
Visible measures at the SCG
The security plan for the final Ashes test includes deploying the riot patrol unit, officers on horseback, and personnel carrying rifles. The SCG is located approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Bondi Beach.
Commissioner Lanyon acknowledged, “Many people may not be used to seeing police carrying rifles at sporting events,” but emphasised the safety objective. Police expect a capacity crowd for the opening day of the final Test.
Cricket Australia to honour first responders and heroes
Cricket Australia confirmed that first responders and “community members who bravely acted” during the Bondi attack will be honoured before the start of play on Sunday.
The tribute will include a guard of honour on the field and a round of applause to recognize “emergency response agencies and members of the community in the face of extreme danger.”
Dead rubber with legacy at stake
Australia, has already retained the Ashes with a 3-1 series lead, with the fifth test to decide the series 4-1, 3-2 or the same result if a match draws.
Australia has already secured the Ashes, with a 3-1 lead in the series. The outcome of the fifth and final Test will determine whether the series ends 4-1 in Australia’s favour, 3-2 if England wins, or remains 3-1 in case of a draw.
England (probable): 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Will Jacks, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Matthew Potts, 11 Josh Tongue
Australia (possible): 1 Jake Weatherald, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Usman Khawaja, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Cameron Green, 8 Michael Neser, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Todd Murphy/Jhye Richardson, 11 Scott Boland
