Australia made a historic selection call by naming no frontline spinner for the Sydney Cricket Ground Test, ending a 138-year tradition dating back to 1888. Captain Steve Smith said conditions forced the decision, with seam and cracks expected to dominate rather than spin. All-rounder Beau Webster was preferred, while Todd Murphy missed out, continuing a trend after Nathan Lyon was overlooked earlier in the series.
England also left out spinner Shoaib Bashir again. With just nine wickets taken by spinners in four Tests, Smith said spin has become the easiest option for batters on Australia’s seam-friendly pitches.