Ashes 2021-22: England, Australia announce playing XIs for Boxing Day Test

England will be up against Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) starting on December 26. The visitors are trailing 0-2 and need to win the third Test to stay alive in the Ashes series. 

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Ahead of the match, England have announced their playing XI and has made four changes to the team. Jonny Bairstow returns to the team and will replace Ollie Pope.

Opening batter Rory Burns is also dropped after a dismal outing in the two Tests. The southpaw managed to score only 51 runs and was unable to see off the new ball in Brisbane.

Zak Crawley has been named his replacement and will partner Haseeb Hameed at the top. Meanwhile, Stuart Broad, who played the second Test has been dropped as well.

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The right-arm bowler did not make an impact in the Pink ball Test and looked mediocre in both innings. All-rounder Chris Woakes has also been dropped from the team. He has taken only three wickets in the two games. Mark Wood and Jack Leach will replace the duo.

England head coach Chris Silverwood is optimistic about his team making a strong comeback in the series. The visitors have hardly looked competitive in the first two Test matches. Only skipper Root and Dawid Malan have been able to resist the Australian bowlers to some extent. 

In the bowling as well, barring veteran pacer James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, the rest have looked pretty ordinary. England needs to pull up their socks against a dominant Australia to harbour hopes of winning the Ashes.

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Meanwhile, Australia have also revealed their playing XI. Skipper Pat Cummins is back in the side, replacing Jhye Richardson. Scott Boland has also been handed his maiden Test cap. The pacer will play in place of Michael Neser.

England: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson.

Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Robert Birsel)