Overview
- Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the urn, with the fifth Test starting January 4 at the SCG.
- Usman Khawaja confirmed he will retire from international cricket after the Sydney match, closing a 15-year career that includes 87 Tests and 6,206 runs with 16 centuries on the ground where he debuted.
- England’s 12 for Sydney includes spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts after Gus Atkinson was ruled out with a hamstring injury, keeping open the option to play a specialist spinner.
- Selection and conditions point to a possible role for spin at the SCG, with Todd Murphy in contention for Australia and wet weather forecasts increasing the chance of a longer match.
- England arrive off a two-day win at the MCG and target a 3-2 scoreline, even as debate continues over tactics and preparation during a truncated, one-sided series.