Australia opt for all-pace attack for the Boxing Day Test

With the Ashes already retained, Australia head into Melbourne aiming to make it four wins in a row, but the hosts face several selection decisions ahead of the marquee Boxing Day Test.

With Nathan Lyon sidelined due to injury sustained in the Adelaide Test, Todd Murphy was added to the squad. However, Australia have opted to go in with four pacers on a pitch expected to offer plenty of movement, according to the returning stand-in skipper Steve Smith.

"We're going to be playing four quicks and no spinner. (The pitch) has 10mm of grass, quite furry, quite green.” said Smith.

"I dare say it's going to offer quite a bit, particularly (day one) is similar conditions to today, quite cold and overcast so I dare say there's going to be quite a bit of movement.”

The final call on the playing XI will be taken post Australia’s last training session on Christmas morning.

"We've landed on a 12, we just want to take a look at the wicket tomorrow." said Smith.

Smith attributed the decision to go with four seamers to what appears to be a seam-friendly pitch, stressing that it had nothing to do with Todd Murphy’s ability. Murphy will have to wait to add to his seven Test caps, having last played for Australia in February earlier this year.

"You just got to play what surface you're presented with; this one looks like it's going to offer a fair bit of assistance for the seam bowlers and the weather throughout the week looks conducive for that too.

"I think if Nathan (Lyon) was (available), we'd probably still be having the same conversation as well, so it's certainly nothing to do with Todd's skill." said Smith.

Steve Smith returns to the squad after missing the third Ashes Test due to an inner-ear issue. In his absence, Usman Khawaja, who was initially set to miss the match, was promoted to bat at No.4, and the 39-year-old seized the opportunity with scores of 82 and 40, performances that helped him retain his place in the side for the Melbourne Test.

"I had a few bad days before the (Adelaide) Test and the first couple of days of the (match until) all my vestibular stuff settled down.” said Smith

"It was a shame to miss that one, it looked like a pretty nice wicket for batting. I was watching in the hotel those first two days and wished I could have been out there, but it was the right call at that stage (because) I was struggling.”

"(It was) fortunate that Usman was able to come in and play the way he did … in that first innings."

Australia squad for 4th Test: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson