Overview
- Stand-in captain Steve Smith confirmed no specialist spinner, with four quicks plus all-rounder Cameron Green after inspecting a pitch carrying about 10mm of grass and likely movement under overcast, cool conditions.
- Australia named a 12 including Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and two of Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson or Brendan Doggett, with Todd Murphy omitted and Usman Khawaja retained as Josh Inglis drops out.
- Pat Cummins is being managed out and Nathan Lyon is sidelined following hamstring surgery, as Australia target World Test Championship points and a possible 5-0 sweep after sealing the series 3-0.
- England finalized their XI with Jofra Archer ruled out by a side strain, Jacob Bethell replacing Ollie Pope at No. 3 and Gus Atkinson coming in for pace.
- Storylines include Alex Carey needing 128 runs to surpass Adam Gilchrist’s Australian wicketkeeper calendar-year mark and Mitchell Starc requiring 10 wickets in Melbourne to top the left-arm seamer Test wicket list.