Australia will go into the Boxing Day Test without a spinner after picking a pace-heavy 12-man squad to tackle England in Melbourne.
Victorian off-spinner Todd Murphy was called into the squad after Nathan Lyon injured his hamstring in Australia’s Ashes series-clinching win in Adelaide.
But with the MCG pitch having up to 10mm of grass, Australia have opted to leave Murphy out.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith, who returns after experiencing vertigo symptoms, will hold off until the toss on Friday before confirming a XI.
It will be the third time in Australia’s last five Tests they have not picked a spinner.
Lyon wasn’t selected for the day-night Test in Jamaica in July, and missed out on the second Test of the Ashes series in Brisbane.
It is a gamble for an Australian team not to select a spinner in Melbourne, where Lyon and Shane Warne have had success.
“A lot of the wickets we’re playing on at present are certainly more seam-friendly than spin-friendly,” Smith said on Thursday.
“Last week [in Adelaide] was an anomaly; we saw some rough and we saw Nathan come into play big time.
“You’ve just got to play what surface you’re presented with, and this one out here looks like it’s going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers.
“If Nathan was here, we’d probably still be having the same conversation as well.
“It’s certainly nothing to do with Todd’s skill, we know he’s a quality bowler.”
Joining Lyon and captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines is Josh Inglis, with quicks Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser included in the 12-man squad.
One of the trio will miss out on playing.
Luckless all-rounder Beau Webster was an option to replace the struggling Cameron Green due to his ability to bowl medium pace and spin.
But selectors are sticking with Green, who will slide down to bat at No.7 after wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s player-of-the-match 106 and 72 at the Adelaide Oval.
Veteran Usman Khawaja, who turned 39 last week, was preferred to Inglis after making 82 and 40 in the third Test in Adelaide.
Khawaja will shuffle down to No.5 to accommodate Smith, with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to continue as the opening pair their opening partnership.
Richardson is in contention to play his first Test in more than four years after a luckless run with injury.
The 29-year-old has impressed when playing for Australia in all three formats, including three Tests.
“He’s just got a great set of skills,” Smith said of the right-arm quick.
“When he’s had the opportunity at this level, he’s been outstanding.”
After retaining the Ashes in only 11 days, Australia will be seeking to continue England’s tour of misery by completing a 5-0 whitewash for the first time since 2013-14.
Jofra Archer, a rare highlight for England during this series, will miss the Melbourne and Sydney Tests with a side strain.
It means Smith and Archer’s fiery confrontation in the final stages of the Gabba Test could be the last time the foes face each other at international level.
Out-of-form England No.3 Ollie Pope has been dropped, replaced by promising youngster Jacob Bethell.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.
