A dry and patchy SCG wicket reminiscent of past generations is likely to see second spinner Ashton Agar play the third Test against South Africa ahead of West Australian tearaway Lance Morris.
Test captain Pat Cummins says the selectors have decided on a final XI but will not name it until the toss on Wednesday morning.
Ashton Agar chances of playing in the SCG Test are firming.Credit:Getty Images
Cummins was not particularly encouraging about the possibility of Morris making his debut despite the 24-year-old being clocked consistently at 150kph-plus this season.
“We’ll see. I don’t think it’s the WACA-type pace-bowling friendly wicket out there,” said Cummins.
The Australians must make two forced changes after opening bowler Mitchell Starc and allrounder Cameron Green suffered significant finger injuries in the second Test at the MCG.
Cummins claimed he and the selectors were “not totally sold either way” on whether to play four or five bowlers in the absence of Green.
“Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne can bowl a bit as well,” Cummins said. “[If] You pick five out-and-out bowlers it probably takes it up to six or seven. So we’ll see.
“Yesterday we had a pretty good look at the wicket. We just wanted to have another look today 24 hours on. It hasn’t really changed, they have taken a bit more grass off it. It looks a bit more like an SCG wicket of 15-20 years ago.”
Cummins played down the possibility of forecast showers, particularly on the opening day, impacting the decision about using Nathan Lyon and Agar as a dual spin threat.
“The pitch is the main one,” Cummins said. “In the last couple of years, the weather hasn’t played ball with the forecast. Last year day four was meant to be washed out, we were umming-and-ahhing about whether to declare and then had a full day’s play. It factors in a little. Even [on] day one we are hoping the rain will be late in the evening after we get a day’s play in.
The NSW-WA Sheffield Shield match in late November, which was dominated by spin, will also be an influencing factor.
Possible team: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland.
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