Oz to play four pacers during Sydney Test with Johnson batting at seven

Sydney: Australia has named four fast bowlers in its playing eleven for the final Test match against Sri Lanka in Sydney despite the SCG having earned a reputation of assisting spinners in the past.

However, an unexpectedly green SCG pitch and last week’s huge victory in Melbourne means that five frontline bowlers will take the field for the home side, News.com.au reports. Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson will bat at seven as the all-rounder after scoring 92 not out in Melbourne. Maxwell, an off-spinner and dangerous batsman, was chosen in the 13-man squad to replace injured vice-captain Shane Watson, but he would be carrying drinks during the Sydney Test match. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc returns to the side as the only change from the team, which beat Sri Lanka in Melbourne by an innings and 201 runs last week. This means that MCG debutant Jackson Bird keeps his place alongside fellow placemen Johnson and Peter Siddle. The middle order will all move up one, with captain Michael Clarke replacing Watson at number four, Mike Hussey moving to number five for his last Test and wicket-keeper Matthew Wade batting at six. Clarke said Australia had opted for four fast bowlers because of the amount of grass on the wicket and the way his pace men bowled in Melbourne, where the match finished inside three days. ANI