Australia coach hints at changes to playing XI for SCG Test

Australia coach Andrew McDonald is strongly considering making changes to his side for the Ashes series finale in Sydney.

The Aussies travel to the SCG for the fifth Test of the series with an unassailable 3-1 advantage, but the side will be keen to atone for the disappointing four-wicket loss they suffered against England during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

McDonald spoke to the media in Melbourne on Monday and suggested spinner Todd Murphy would be strongly considered for the SCG contest, while back-up all-rounder Beau Webster is also a chance of returning to replace Cameron Green.

“It’s a nice problem to have,” McDonald said of his selection dilemma for the Sydney Test that commences on January 4.

“People are going to debate selection. They’re going to debate where Cameron’s at at this point in time and how he fits.

“We know we’ve got a quality player (in Webster) sitting there waiting.

“We’ve got a batting order that we’d like to think can function at a higher capacity, so we’ll be having conversations leading into Sydney.”

McDonald suggested the SCG pitch may lean towards Australia selecting a specialist spinner and that he would like to see what Murphy could offer.

“It takes a lot for us to not pick a spinner, and we have been pushed into making that decision,” McDonald noted.

“Red-ball games, that’s the first time in a long time that we haven’t picked a spinner (in Melbourne). It’s not something that we like doing. I don’t think it’s something that will happen moving forward.

“I’d love to pick Todd. I’d love to see what he’s got to offer.

“We think he’s back to his best, and what we’ve seen when he’s come closer to the camp has been excellent.

“We’d love to pick him.”

McDonald was wary of making too many changes for the series finale, with valuable ICC World Test Championship points up for grabs as the Aussies strive for a third straight appearance in the final.

“WTC is something that we aim and strive for,” McDonald said.

“Every Test match is vitally important, and we like to think we just pick the best Test team for that surface based upon that opponent, because the WTC is something that is held in such high regard by this group.

“We like to be consistent.”

Usman Khawaja was one player McDonald did guarantee would appear in Sydney, with the Australian coach dismissing any thoughts the veteran batter would announce his retirement from international cricket.

Khawaja was dropped from the side for the second Test in Brisbane, but responded well in Adelaide when contributing scores of 82 and 40 after earning a late reprieve on the day of the game when Steve Smith was ruled out of the contest.

“He’s with his family at the moment, having a couple of days off, and we will build into Sydney, and we’re always having conversations around where players are at and speaking directly with players," McDonald said.

“There is no indication at my end that he’s calling it in Sydney. That will be something that we discuss, but his performance in this calendar year has been good enough to warrant selection.

“I’d see he’ll be there, marking centre in Sydney.”

Ashes schedule:

First Test: Perth Stadium, November 21-22 (Australia won by eight wickets)
Second Test: Gabba, December 4-7 (Australia won by eight wickets)
Third Test: Adelaide Oval, December 17-21 (Australia won by 82 runs)
Fourth Test: MCG, December 26-30 (England won by four wickets)
Fifth Test: SCG, January 4-8