Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald has hinted that the Baggy Greens could drop star all-rounder Cameron Green from the playing XI for the fifth and final Test of Ashes 2025-26 series. The fifth Test of ongoing
high-profile Test series between Australia and England will be played from January 4 to 8 at Sydney Cricket Ground. According to McDonald, in place of Green, who has only managed to score 112 runs and take three wickets in four matches of the ongoing series, all-rounder Beau Webster could get a chance.
Webster made his Test debut for the Aussies at SCG in January 2025 against India and scored a half-century in the first innings in addition to taking Shubman Gill’s wicket in the second. He played two Tests in Sri Lanka, WTC 2025 final at Lord’s and three Tests in the West Indies, but warmed the bench in first four of ongoing Ashes.
In addition to Webster, spinner Todd Murphy is also expected to play for the Baggy Greens at the iconic stadium in Sydney.
McDonald spoke to the media in Melbourne on Monday and said, “It’s a nice problem to have (selection dilemma). People are going to debate selection. They’re going to debate where Cameron’s (Green) at at this point in time and how he fits. We know we’ve got a quality player (in Webster) sitting there waiting. We’ve got a batting order that we’d like to think can function at a higher capacity, so we’ll be having conversations leading into Sydney.”
McDonald has suggested the SCG pitch may lean towards Australia selecting a specialist spinner and that he would like to see what Murphy could offer.
“It takes a lot for us to not pick a spinner, and we have been pushed into making that decision,” McDonald noted.
“Red-ball games, that’s the first time in a long time that we haven’t picked a spinner (in Melbourne). It’s not something that we like doing. I don’t think it’s something that will happen moving forward.
“I’d love to pick Todd (Murphy). I’d love to see what he’s got to offer. We think he’s back to his best, and what we’ve seen when he’s come closer to the camp has been excellent. We’d love to pick him,” he added.
