Australia v England
Fourth Test, December 26-30 Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, 23:30 (Dec 25)
ENGLAND may have lost the Ashes but the occasion of the Boxing Day Test, as well as the army of travelling fans who have made the pilgrimage to Melbourne, will be enough motivation to put in a performance that finally demands respect from Australia.
The spectre of a third 5-0 whitewash in four Ashes tours will also be at the forefront of English minds, with the realisation that another defeat could prove terminal in their hopes of stopping that.
England are likely to make changes. Craig Overton, who has a hairline fracture of the rib and could puncture a lung if he plays on, is almost certainly out. Stuart Broad is also in danger of being dropped after a poor series so far.
At the age of 31, Broad is fighting for his very Test future. The same could be said of opener Alastair Cook, who will turn 33 on Christmas Day and after 150 Test appearances knows he is perhaps nearing the end of his international career.
Moeen Ali’s place will also be questioned and rightly so given he averages 19 with the bat and 105 with the ball in this series.
That means leg-spinner Mason Crane and seamers Jake Ball and Tom Curran will all come into contention for selection for the fourth Test.
Denne historien er fra December 22,2017-utgaven av The Cricket Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 22,2017-utgaven av The Cricket Paper.
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