Sydney Calling: New Year Test, New Stories
The Ashes is already done and dusted, but heading to the fifth and final Test there is still everything to play for given the World Test Championship points are up for grabs. Both teams, which are depleted through injured players, have few calls to make before the SCG Test. Here are the talking points…
Final outing for Khawaja?
Despite being the least of concerns for Australia heading into the Ashes, a lot has changed for Usman Khawaja, who is now batting in middle-order. He is set to address the media on Friday and there are speculations that Khawaja is set to call time on his career and the SCG, which has been home to many storied farewells in Australian cricket, could well be the final destination for him as well. Former Australia captain Michael Clarkereckoned Sydney Test could be Khawaja’s final Test. “I think this will be Usman’s farewell Test match. I don’t think it’s a token selection; they obviously picked him for Melbourne, so if they’ve gone that way, you pick him for Sydney as well. Australia will win the series. Hopefully, he goes out with a big score. I’d love to see Uz make a hundred at the SCG and walk away on a high because not many people get that opportunity,” Clarke told Code Sports.
Tongue should have played more: Broad
While not much has gone in England’s favour this tour, the form of pacer Josh Tongue has been refreshing for a team missing a leader. With Jofra Archer and Mark Wood out, Tongue has stepped up, bowling remarkably well in their lone win at Melbourne as questions were raised about his exclusion for the first two Tests. Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad said Tongue should have played more Tests. “He exposes a full length, has got Steve Smith out three times in Test cricket and twice in county cricket, and bowls with a slightly different angle: wider of the crease, but can move the ball away. He needs protecting in the sense that he is going to bowl bad balls, so you need someone in the bowling attack that will defend and hold an area, but Tongue has done himself the world of good being on this trip,” he said.
Murphy hopeful of spin
Sinners have had little role to play in this series. With Nathan Lyon injured, even hosts Australia have relied on the seamers. But everything could change in Sydney, where Todd Murphy believes the spinners will have a bigger role to play. “I think it definitely can spin. We’ve played on some BBL wickets here where it has taken spin. I’ve only played a couple of Shield games and don’t think it’s ever done anything extraordinary out there. I don’t think recently it’s been a massive spin but there’s still been a big part of the game that spin played.” Murphy has picked 22 wickets in seven Tests thus far, all of which have come away from home. He also understands that Lyon will always be the first-choice spinner at home. “I was never going to keep my place in the team when he came back and I was always going to have to go back through Shield cricket and keep developing.”
MCG was lottery, Vaughan dig at England
Though England arrested their line of defeats in Australia at Melbourne, where the Test ended in two days, former captain Michael Vaughan believes the visitors have to win a strong game at Sydney. “I think it’s a massive game for England (in Sydney). It’s nice to win a game of cricket, but let’s be honest, it was a complete lottery in Melbourne. It wasn’t a proper game of Test match cricket. For the future and for this management in particular, they need to win a strong game of cricket here … that’s not a two-dayer,” Vaughan told The Sydney Morning Herald. Ever since England lost Ashes, there have been question marks around the future of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. Vaughan said SCG is important for the duo. “For this management to carry on, the likes of Ben (Stokes) and Baz (Brendon McCullum) – I’m pretty sure they will carry on – but I think they need a good week for that to be absolutely rock solid.”
Positive signs in Martyn’s health: Gilchrist
In the lead up to the final Test, news emerged with regards to the health condition of former Australia batsman Damien Martyn, who was put in an induced coma after suffering from Meningitis. Former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist has shared that some positive signs have come out from the various medical tests Martyn has gone through. The 54-year-old was transported from his Gold Coast home after being unwell on Boxing Day to a Brisbane hospital and was put in an induced coma after the diagnosis of meningitis. “He’s still in the hospital. There’ll be more details come out as they come to hand but certainly in the last 24 hours, some positive signs are the indications coming out of the various tests he’s having. There’s been so much interest and love. A fine player, terrific fella. I just hope he can continue his recovery.” Gilchrist told Fox Cricket. Martyn, who was part of the 2003 World Cup winning Australian team, played 67 Tests for Australia from 1992 to 2006 and scored 4406 runs at an average of 46.37 including 13 centuries.
