Australia, under Steve Smith, went into the second Ashes Test in Brisbane without a frontline spinner. Three weeks on, Australia will repeat that strategy for the Boxing Day Test, once again under the captaincy of Smith. Nathan Lyon has been ruled out with injury while his replacement Todd Murphy misses the cut as the hosts have opted to go with four pacers instead. “We landed on a 12. I want to just take a look at the wicket tomorrow. We’re going to be playing four quicks, no spinner,” Smith said on Christmas Day.
