Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - Fourth Test - MCG, Melbourne, Australia - December 26, 2025 A general view ahead of the MCG Boxing Day test match. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
MELBOURNE, Dec 26 (Reuters) - England won the toss and elected to field first in the fourth Ashes test against Australia in Melbourne on Friday.
Australia lead the five-test series 3-0 after wins in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.
* Australia name fast bowler Jhye Richardson in XI for first test since 2021/22 Ashes. He joins Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Michael Neser in an all-pace attack.
* Australia all-rounder Cameron Green demoted to number seven in batting order, with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis omitted from XI.
* Steve Smith to captain Australia after return from suffering vertigo symptoms. Regular skipper Pat Cummins ruled out of the rest of series to protect recovering lower back.
* Jacob Bethell to make Ashes debut at number three for England in place of the dropped Ollie Pope.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Jamie Freed)
