Australia Field Playing XI Without Spinner At Sydney For First Time in Tests; Captain Steve Smith Confirms Breaking 138-Year Tradition Ahead of Ashes 2025-26 5th Test Against England

For the first time since 1888, Australia has entered a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) without a specialist spinner. The historic selection gamble took place on Sunday as the fifth and final Ashes Test against England commenced, marking a dramatic departure from the 138-year tradition of the SCG being Australia’s premier spin-bowling haven. Ashes 5th Test 2025-26: Joe Root, Harry Brook Half-Centuries Put England in Commanding Position at Tea on Day 1.

Interim captain Steve Smith confirmed the decision at the toss, announcing that off-spinner Todd Murphy had been overlooked in favor of all-rounder Beau Webster. The move solidifies a trend in a series that has been overwhelmingly dominated by fast bowlers on unusually green and seam-friendly Australian pitches.

Selection "Pushed into a Corner"

Captain Steve Smith expressed a mix of regret and pragmatism regarding the selection. Addressing the media, Smith admitted he "hated" making the call but felt the current state of Australian pitches left the team with little choice.

"If we keep producing wickets that we don't think are going to spin, and seam and cracks are going to play a big part, you kind of get pushed into a corner," Smith said. He further noted that on recent surfaces, spin has become "the easiest thing to face," leading to concerns that a slow bowler could leak runs quickly if the opposition bats aggressively.

The All-Pace Strategy

The inclusion of Beau Webster provides Australia with five seam options, including Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, and Cameron Green. While Webster is capable of bowling off-spin, he is primarily regarded as a medium-fast bowler and a powerful middle-order batsman.

This tactical shift isn't isolated to the Sydney Test. Spinners have played a peripheral role throughout the 2025-26 Ashes series, accounting for only nine wickets across the first four matches. England has followed a similar path, opting not to field their primary spinner, Shoaib Bashir, for the fifth consecutive game.

A Changing Landscape at the SCG

Historically, the SCG’s "Bulli soil" was famous for breaking up and offering significant turn on the fourth and fifth days. However, recent seasons have seen a notable shift. During last year’s New Year's Test against India, seamers claimed 33 of the 34 wickets to fall, with the match ending inside three days.

Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe voiced his concern over the move, suggesting that the "writing is on the wall" for the future of spin in domestic conditions if the trend continues. Conversely, assistant coach Dan Vettori argued that while results for spinners have diminished recently, the craft remains integral to the long-term future of Test cricket.

Ashes Context

Australia entered the Sydney Test having already retained the Ashes urn, holding a 3-1 lead in the series. The decision to go spin-free reflects the team's prioritize on maximizing their current pace advantage to secure a 4-1 series victory. Ashes 5th Test 2025-26: England and Australia Players Form Guard of Honour for Bondi Attack Heroes.

The match also serves as a farewell for veteran opener Usman Khawaja, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, adding another layer of historical weight to an already landmark fixture.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2026 05:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).